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Frequently Asked Questions

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Q: What is a stormwater Greenstreet, and how does it work?

A: Green street infrastructures are implemented into sidewalks to work towards the goal of preventing damage to the sidewalk itself and also the area nearby.

Q: What is a Rain Garden, and how does it work?

A: "A rain garden is a shallow depressed area in the ground that absorbs rain from streets, allowing rain to soak directly into the soil." Made up of shrubs and perennials native to the area, rain gardens are an effective GSI in reduce the amount of runoff from potentially flooding local streets.

Q: What is a Right-of-Way Bioswale, and how does it work?

A: Right-of-way bioswales are green infrastructures designed to capture stormwater runoff and alleviate the water, therefore reducing the number of water that enters the sewer system, and reducing the chance of sewer flooding. Bioswales are typically vegetated or mulched and treat water as it flows into the system, while also reducing the amount of water that does enter the system.

Q: What is a Stormwater Bumpout, and how does it work?

A: "A stormwater bumpout is a vegetated curb extension that protrudes into the street either mid-block or at an intersection, creating a new curb some distance from the existing curb. A bumpout is composed of a layer of stone that is topped with soil and plants. An inlet or curb-cut directs runoff into the bumpout structure where it can be stored, infiltrated, and taken up by the plants (evapotranspiration). Excess runoff is permitted to leave the system and flow to an existing inlet. The vegetation of the bumpout will be short enough to allow for open sight lines of traffic. Aside from managing stormwater, bumpouts also help with traffic-calming, and when located at crosswalks, they provide a pedestrian safety benefit by reducing the street crossing distance."

Q: What programs will you be using to complete this project?

The programs we will be using to complete this project are Sketchup for 3D modeling, and AutoCad for the drainage area map.

Q: Why do this project?

A: Flooding is a problem that plagues many areas throughout the world. As we have seen firsthand how dangerous it can be, we want to propose a solution to the flooding that is not only environmentally safe, but also aesthetically pleasing in the area.

Q: Is there anywhere you go more in-depth about the GSIs you are using?

A: There sure is! We posted about each of the GSIs in the own pages under the Background Material tab.
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