
Stormwater strategies, Southeast Area Master Plan, Visalia, California
(2007)
This project seeks to establish a new model for planning and development that consciously discourages suburban sprawl and integrates sustainability in all facets of its design. Included are strategies designed to conserve natural resources, establish walking sheds, create well-connected street networks, offer a variety of development intensities, and create a full range of sustainable design techniques. The portion of the Plan that addresses sustainable design includes detailed approaches to a green building techniques, drought-resistant landscape, and infrastructure and storm water management. The storm water management design is one example of the high level of commitment to sustainability. The system captures and directs all possible sources of runoff water to appropriate infiltration sites with natural, on-site filtering mechanisms, or to the major recharge mechanisms of the Cameron Creek and Tulare Irrigation District Canal. The system is based upon the following principles:
In support of these strategies, the adjacent diagram of the Northeast Neighborhood notes the location of bio-swales (graded, park-like areas which gather water for infiltration), pervious paving (a special type of hard surface which allows water to pass through to the water table below), filter strips (narrow, landscaped areas within developed urban fabric), rain gardens (landscaped water retention adjacent to buildings which receive rooftop runoff), bio-retention sites (other locations which gather water, such as a natural setting or park), tree wells (the traditional open area or grate below the canopy of a tree) and the relationship of these components to buildings, streets and other urban fabric.
Stormwater strategies, Southeast Area Master Plan, Visalia, California
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