BAY-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING Creating Drought Resistant Soils · Bay-Friendly Landscaping: 7 Principles for Landscaping Sustainably - June 7, 2007 California Water Efficient Landscape

Bay-Friendly Landscaping: 7 Principles for Landscaping Sustainably - June 7, 2007

BBAYAY--FFRIENDLY RIENDLY LLANDSCAPINGANDSCAPINGCreating Drought Resistant SoilsCreating Drought Resistant Soils

Water Conservation ShowcaseWater Conservation ShowcaseMarch 24, 2009March 24, 2009

Sarah Sutton, ASLA, LEED AP, PrincipalSarah Sutton, ASLA, LEED AP, PrincipalDesign, Community & EnvironmentDesign, Community & Environment

Geoff Hall Geoff Hall Sentient Landscape, Inc Sentient Landscape, Inc

Presentation Objectives Presentation Objectives

• Understand the relationship between healthy soils and water conservation

• Learn how Bay-Friendly landscape practices build/protect healthy soils

• Share experience and lessons learned with compost and mulch

• Provide useful information on specifying and using compost and mulch


BBAYAY--FFRIENDLY RIENDLY LLANDSCAPING ANDSCAPING IISS……

A whole systems approach to the

design, construction & maintenance

of the landscape.

BBENEFITS OF ENEFITS OF BBAYAY--FFRIENDLY RIENDLY LLANDSCAPINGANDSCAPING

Helps local agencies meet their goals to :

• Reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions• Conserve Water• Reduce Stormwater Runoff• Reduce Air pollution• Reduce Waste & increase Recycling• Create Healthier Communities


BBENEFITS OF ENEFITS OF BBAYAY--FFRIENDLY RIENDLY LLANDSCAPINGANDSCAPING

• Less waste • Cleaner water & air• Healthier soils and

landscapes• Lower water & garbage bills• Healthier homes,

communities and watersheds

Case Study (right) resulted in 50% reduction in water use and 20% savings in maintenance costs.

77 PPRINCIPLES of RINCIPLES of BBAYAY--FFRIENDLY RIENDLY LLANDSCAPINGANDSCAPING

1. Landscape Locally2. Landscape for

Less to the Landfill3. Nurture the Soil4. Conserve Water5. Conserve Energy6. Protect Water & Air

Quality7. Create Wildlife

Habitat


NNURTURE THE URTURE THE SSOILOIL

Soils are living ecosystems and when healthy can filter pollution, store water, provide plant nutrients, and help plants resist pests naturally.


During Design & During Design & Construction: Construction:

•• Assess Soil/Test Assess Soil/Test DrainageDrainage

•• Remove/Store Topsoil Remove/Store Topsoil •• Protect Soil Protect Soil

Structure/Avoid Structure/Avoid CompactionCompaction

•• Break up Compacted Break up Compacted SoilSoil



During Design & During Design & Construction: Construction:

•• Cover Soil With MulchCover Soil With Mulch•• Amend Soil with Amend Soil with

Organic Matter Organic Matter •• Feed Soils Feed Soils

Naturally/Avoid Naturally/Avoid Synthetic Fertilizers Synthetic Fertilizers

•• Control ErosionControl Erosion


During Maintenance:During Maintenance:•• GrasscycleGrasscycle•• Avoid working soil when Avoid working soil when

wet wet •• Feed soil naturally with Feed soil naturally with

compost topdressing or compost topdressing or teatea

•• Avoid synthetic, quick Avoid synthetic, quick release fertilizersrelease fertilizers

•• Minimize use of chemicalsMinimize use of chemicals•• Mulch regularly Mulch regularly


California Water Efficient California Water Efficient Landscape OrdinanceLandscape Ordinance -- HistoryHistory

•• AB325 AB325 -- Water Conservation in Landscaping Act Water Conservation in Landscaping Act •• Model ordinance drafted by DWR in 1990Model ordinance drafted by DWR in 1990•• Jan 1993: Each local agency was required by state law Jan 1993: Each local agency was required by state law

to adopt policy, create and adopt their own, or issue to adopt policy, create and adopt their own, or issue legal finding that they do not need an ordinance legal finding that they do not need an ordinance –– or or model would become lawmodel would become law

•• Applied to: Applied to: 1.1. new or rehabilitated >2500 sq. feetnew or rehabilitated >2500 sq. feet2.2. Public and privatePublic and private3.3. Commercial, institutional, industrial & MFCommercial, institutional, industrial & MF4.4. MF & SF homes designed and installed by developerMF & SF homes designed and installed by developer5.5. Some exceptionsSome exceptions

California Water Efficient California Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance Landscape Ordinance -- HistoryHistory

•• Western Policy Study 2001Western Policy Study 2001•• 90% of new development in agencies 90% of new development in agencies

with a policywith a policy•• General consensus: better designGeneral consensus: better design

drought tolerant plantsdrought tolerant plantshigher quality and more efficient irrigationhigher quality and more efficient irrigationHowever: inconsistencies in standards, However: inconsistencies in standards, implementation and follow upimplementation and follow upLack of awareness of standardsLack of awareness of standards


California Water Efficient California Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance Landscape Ordinance –– History History

Additional Reports:Additional Reports:•• Pacific Institute 2003: Waste Not, Want NotPacific Institute 2003: Waste Not, Want Not

Potential outdoor residential water savings of 25Potential outdoor residential water savings of 25--40%:40%:improved landscape managementimproved landscape managementhardware improvements and hardware improvements and landscape design.landscape design.

•• DWR 2005: California Water Plan UpdateDWR 2005: California Water Plan UpdateUse water efficientlyUse water efficientlyProtect water qualityProtect water qualityManage water to protect and restore environmentManage water to protect and restore environment

California Water Efficient California Water Efficient Landscape OrdinanceLandscape Ordinance –– AB 2717AB 2717

CUWCC task force 2004CUWCC task force 2004evaluate and make recommendationsevaluate and make recommendationsgroups on irrigation, planting, economics and othergroups on irrigation, planting, economics and other

Recommendations not includedRecommendations not includedTurf limitationsTurf limitationsLimits on plant choiceLimits on plant choice

Additional recommendations from BFLAdditional recommendations from BFLStrengthen soil management to include amending Strengthen soil management to include amending soil to increase SOMsoil to increase SOM


California Water Efficient California Water Efficient Landscape OrdinanceLandscape Ordinance –– AB 1882AB 1882

Requires DWR to develop updated Model ordinance by Jan Requires DWR to develop updated Model ordinance by Jan 2009 (OAL reviewing, final approval due this week) 2009 (OAL reviewing, final approval due this week)

Jan 2010: Each local agency is required by state law to Jan 2010: Each local agency is required by state law to 1.1. adopt model or adopt model or 2.2. Adopt their own ordinance that is as strong as or Adopt their own ordinance that is as strong as or

stronger than the modelstronger than the model3.3. Or model ordinance would take effectOr model ordinance would take effect

Applicable to:Applicable to:•• New and rehabilitated >2500 sq. feet New and rehabilitated >2500 sq. feet •• Public and privatePublic and private•• Commercial, institutional, industrial & MFCommercial, institutional, industrial & MF•• SF homes designed and installed by developerSF homes designed and installed by developer•• Some exceptionsSome exceptions

California Water Efficient California Water Efficient Landscape OrdinanceLandscape Ordinance

•• A Soil Management Plan is a key component of A Soil Management Plan is a key component of the new model ordinancethe new model ordinance

•• Soils testing will be required for pH, texture, Soils testing will be required for pH, texture, infiltration rate, organic matter content, soluble infiltration rate, organic matter content, soluble slats and sodiumslats and sodium

•• StopwasteStopwaste is preparing a model ordinance that is preparing a model ordinance that also recommends the use of compost as also recommends the use of compost as amendment, and other Bayamendment, and other Bay--Friendly practices Friendly practices to increase moisture holding capacity of soils to increase moisture holding capacity of soils


Creating Drought Resistant SoilsCreating Drought Resistant Soils

Compost isCompost is……the product of controlled the product of controlled decomposition and decomposition and introduces over 1 billion introduces over 1 billion microorganism per microorganism per teaspoon to the soil teaspoon to the soil

Mulch isMulch is……any material spread over any material spread over the surface of the soil to the surface of the soil to control weeds and retain control weeds and retain moisture moisture

Benefits of CompostBenefits of Compost

Incorporating compost:Incorporating compost:

•• Improved water holding Improved water holding capacitycapacity

•• Improved structure & Improved structure & aerationaeration

•• Increased water infiltrationIncreased water infiltration

•• Reduced erosion & runoffReduced erosion & runoff


Benefits of MulchBenefits of Mulch

Applying mulch to the Applying mulch to the surface of the soil:surface of the soil:

•• Reduces weed growthReduces weed growth•• Slowly adds organic matter Slowly adds organic matter

to the soilto the soil•• Prevents soil compaction Prevents soil compaction •• Improves soil structureImproves soil structure•• Increases infiltrationIncreases infiltration•• Reduces crusting, erosion & Reduces crusting, erosion &

runoffrunoff

Landscape StandardsLandscape Standards

BayBay--Friendly Landscape Friendly Landscape Guidelines: Guidelines: Sustainable Sustainable Practices for the Practices for the Landscape Landscape ProfessionalProfessional

BayBay--Friendly Friendly Gardening: from your Gardening: from your backyard to the Bay backyard to the Bay for for Residents Residents

BayBay--Friendly Civic & Friendly Civic & Commercial Commercial Landscape Landscape ScorecardScorecard


Sample BFL ProjectsSample BFL ProjectsMember Agency Landscape Project

1 Alameda, County* Castro Valley Library

2 Albany Buchannan St. Medians

3 Albany 3 Parks renovations

4 Albany* Civic Center

5 Berkeley* Hills Fire Station

6 Castro Valley, SD Admin Offices

7 Emeryville Doyle St. Park

8 Oakland* Studio One, Art Center

9 Oakland* 81st Library

10 Pleasanton* Fire Station #3

11 San Leandro* Senior Center

12 Union City* 7th Street Fire Station

13 Union City Willow Park

14 Union City Alvarado Blvd Medians* Also received a Green Building Grant from StopWaste.Org

Bay Street Plaza, EmeryvilleBay Street Plaza, Emeryville

Project Overview:Project Overview:

• Landscape Architect: April Philips Design Works, Inc

• High-visibility retail plaza • Size: 19,261 square feet

or .44 acre• Before construction 99%

impervious surface, after construction 30% impervious surface

Source: April Philips Design Works, Inc


Bay Street Plaza, EmeryvilleBay Street Plaza, Emeryville

•• Existing soil was Existing soil was unsuitable unsuitable

•• Imported soil for raised Imported soil for raised landscape planters landscape planters

•• Tested import and Tested import and amended with organic amended with organic compost and other compost and other natural fertilizersnatural fertilizers

•• Specified 3Specified 3”” of compost and of compost and 33”” of mulchof mulch

OhloneOhlone College, NewarkCollege, Newark

Project Overview:Project Overview:

• Landscape Architect: CMG• Architect: MBT

Architecture• Completed: January 2008• LEED Gold• First “green” community

college campus in the nation

• Size: 81 Acres Source: cmg landscape architecture


OhloneOhlone College, NewarkCollege, Newark

• College is developing comprehensive maintenance manual– Specifies integrated pest

management (IPM) onsite composting and grasscycling

• Grasscycling– Leaving lawn clippings in place – Returns moisture and nutrients to

the turf – Reduces green waste

Berkeley Hills Fire StationBerkeley Hills Fire Station

BFL points received for:•Chipping trees on site to use as mulch•Locally produced compost and mulch •Stockpiling of topsoil•Soil aeration


Berkeley Hills Fire StationBerkeley Hills Fire Station

Sarah Conner CourtBFL points received for:• Soil Analysis• Stockpiling topsoil• Locally produced compost &

mulch• Soil aeration


Sarah Conner Court

Albany Street MediansAlbany Street Medians

BFL points received for:•Soil analysis•Sheet mulching with locally produced recycled products•Soil aeration

Issues:•Compacted soil•Noxious invasives•1st batch of compost returned




Sheet Mulch is a “chemical free”weed suppression system

North Bay Paper, PetalumaHeritagepaper.com



Using Compost

• Cornerstone of BF• Start with a soil

analysis• Purchasing quality

compost is key: USCC STA

• Model Specification program


Using Compost

Using Mulch

• Use recycled mulch

• Before applying– remove weeds &

water thoroughly


Using Mulch

• Keep mulch away from trunks

• 9 cu yds per 1000sq. Feet = 3 inches

• Avoid nitrogen drag

BayBay--Friendly ResourcesFriendly Resources

• Model Policies and Implementation Assistance

• Design Assistance & Grants• Landscape Guidelines• Landscape Scorecard• Bay-Friendly Training and

Qualification program for professionals

• Marketing & Consumer Outreach

www.BayFriendly.org

Documents

BAY-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPING Creating Drought Resistant Soils · Bay-Friendly Landscaping: 7 Principles for Landscaping Sustainably - June 7, 2007 California Water Efficient Landscape