Sustainable Landscapes: Tools to Guide Design Decisions in Boise

Sustainable Landscapes in the City of TreesCollaboration & strategic tools guide design & investment

Treasure Valley

Sustained CollaborationRegional Planning •Strategic partnerships create effective change

•Regional UTC Assessment & planning tools•Treasure Valley Canopy Network (Lance)

Urban Infrastructure Investment

•Strategic stormwater modeling drives Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI)•Ecosystem Sciences (Tim)

Building a Sustainable City

•Design & implementation approaches maximize community buy-in•DeepRoot (Shawn)

David Stephenson – Urban Forestry Program Manager

Idaho Department of Lands

Tim Maguire– Principal &GIS Director

Ecosystem Sciences Foundation

Putting Assessments to Work …. Strategic Tree Canopy Management

Boise & Idaho’s Treasure Valley

Revitalizing a City 2012 – 2013: 8th & Main 2013 TV UTC Assessment City Streetscapes

Healthy Trees Stormwater Tools

2015 Community Forestry Management Plan

2015 – current: Boise Grove

Strategic Partnerships solving complex challenges of downtown revitalization

Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) Assessment

UTC + Ecosystem Services = Strategic Management

Network & Resources

Diverse Network Partners

Sustainable BenefitsAnnual Ecosystem Services in Boise

Air Quality $3.3 million in

reduced adverse human health impacts

Stormwater $485,000 in reduced

infrastructure costs

Economic impact Stronger businesses Higher residential

property value

Source: 2013 TV Urban Tree Canopy Assessment

Downtown Boise At-A-Glance

Regional Park & smaller pocket parks

18% UTC 10% urban core Most in ROW

1,500 potential planting sites 800 in urban

core Street trees not

included

Downtown BoiseTree Canopy pre-2013

Historically small tree-wells (4’x4’ or 6’x6’)Poor healthDamageLimited public &

environmental benefit

Reflects poorly on Boise

Life-span (10+ yrs)

Sustainable Benefits Creating Places for People

Sustainable BenefitsCreating Places for People







Network Data & ToolsUrban Design, Conservation and

PreservationGIS data informs local planning efforts

City of Boise Community Forestry Plan (10yr Horizon)

ACHD’s Sub-watershed Planning

Ada County Highway District (ACHD)

Subwatershed Planning Process

• Stormwater infrastructure• ArcHydro

DELINEATE SUBWATERSHEDS

Delineate Subwatersheds (subareas)

LiDAR Data ArcHydro – ArcGIS Extension ACHD Historical Data Field Verify

Model Stormwater Dynamics PCSWMM => Set-up Model => Calibrate => Run Model

Prioritize Green Stormwater Infrastructure

(GSI) Pollutant loads (lbs./acre)

High pollutant load = High priority Runoff (gallons/acre)

High Runoff = High priority Depth to Groundwater (Well Logs/Static Depth)

Greater Depth to Groundwater = Optimal GSI ROW (% of Subarea)

High % of ROW in Subarea = Increased ACHD options

TIER I

Contamination Brownfields, Leaky Underground Storage tanks, RCRA

Redevelopment High Priority Sites for Redevelopment/Development







Partner CoordinationTreasure

Valley Canopy Network

GSI/Stormwater

Urban Forestry/CCDC/Ada

County Highway District

Deeproot/ Jensen Belts

Assoc/ Quadrant Consulting

Guho CorpGeneral

Contractors

Silva Cell TechnologyIntegrated tree, soil and stormwater system• modular building block beneath paving• supports H20 traffic loads • contains unlimited amounts of uncompacted soil for treating

stormwater • accommodates surrounding utilities• supports the growth and health of large shade trees

Typical 5’ x 5’ Tree Opening, approximately 75cf of soil per tree

Silva Cells under pavement delivering an additional 900cf of soil per tree and treating up to 180cf of stormwater

Sustainable Investmentin the Built Environment

Sustainable Investmentin the Built Environment

Silva Cells installed in Boise provide:

Total Soil volume: 51,260cf soil Total trees planted: 102 (500cf) Total Stormwater offline: 10,252 cf

stormwater Total anticipated canopy: 72,063sf

Effective ImplementationLessons Learned

Pre-construction stakeholders conference / access discussion

Construction signage / temporary access

Access to temporary parking during approach closures

Planning for SUCCESSAddress problems ahead of

time Utility coordination Existing Storefront Elevations

Communicate with businesses Before During

Minimize impact through extended work hours

Business comes first!

Grove PlazaRenovation of

30 year Old Plaza

33 New Trees with Silva Cells

Stormwater Treatment

Central Addition LIV DistrictConstruction

began Sept 2016

5 City Blocks Complete Streetscapes Renovation

100% Storm Water Treatment On Site

Sustainable Landscapes in the City of Trees

Regional Planning

• Strategic partnerships create effective change


• Strategic tools & modeling drives sustainable investments

Building a Sustainable

City

• Design & implementation ensures community buy-in

Learn more & stay connected at: www.tvcanopy.net

http://www.tvcanopy.net/