CICEET Progress Report for the period 9/01/08 Through 2/28/09

Project Title: Improving Land Use in the Lake Erie Basin through Better Planning, Improved Regulations, and Storm Water Modeling
Principal Investigator(s): Amy H. Brennan
Project Start Date: September 1, 2007
Report Compiled By: Rachel M. Webb

Project Objectives for This Reporting Period
Objective 1: Develop methodology for integrating best available natural resource data into local comprehensive plans.

Objective Description
Develop methodology for integrating best available natural resource data into local comprehensive plans.
Work with interested member communities to incorporate sophisticated mapping and technically sound natural resource data into local comprehensive planning, document this process, and actively share this with interested watershed planning organizations and communities basinwide. Through this Objective, CRWP will assist members in updating their plans and will document the process to provide a methodology for other interested Lake Erie watersheds to complete similar updates.

Tasks to meet objectives
1. Prepare and distribute memorandum to member trustees, mayors, and county commissioners. Completed

2. Present community specific data to at least 16 interested member communities. Presented to 18 CRWP Member Communities. Completed

• Auburn Township - September 12, 2007. See Auburn Zoning Commission September 12 2007.pdf
• Village of Hunting Valley ­ February 20, 2008
• Village of Gates Mills ­ February 22, 2008
• City of Mentor ­ April 3, 2008
• Mayfield Village ­ April 23, 2008
• Village of Woodmere ­ May 14, 2008
• City of Willoughby ­ May 29, 2008
• South Russell ­ June 9, 2008
• Bainbridge Township ­ June 30, 2008.
• City of Eastlake ­ August 20, 2008
• Orange Village ­ September 2, 2008
• City of Willoughby Hills ­ September 30, 2008
• City of Kirtland ­ October 13, 2008
• City of Wickliffe ­ October 29, 2008
• Chester Township ­ November 5, 2008
• Russell Township ­ December 15, 2008
• Mayfield Heights ­ December 1 and 8, 2008
• Mantua Township ­ December 11, 2008

3. Work with planners, engineers, law directors, and others in at least 4 interested member communities to incorporate CRWP data into existing comprehensive plans.

• Auburn and Eastlake continue to work on comprehensive land use plan updates
• City of Willoughby completed their comprehensive land use plan and was adopted by City Council December 16, 2008.
• City of Mentor in conjunction with the Lake County Planning Commission is considering an update to their comprehensive land use plan to incorporate CRWP data and new planning strategies.

4. Partner with 2 interested members to fund full comprehensive plan updates.

• Auburn and Eastlake continue to work on comprehensive land use plan updates
• CRWP is discussing a partial funding of City of Mentor’s land use plan update with remaining CICEET funds.

5. Document this process and prepare methodology.
CRWP will document Activities 1 to 4 and prepare a summary for other interested watershed planning organizations at the completion of the project.

Progress on Tasks
Task 1: Completed.

Task 2: Completed.

Task 3: 60% Completed. Natural resource data has been included in City of Willoughby comprehensive plan and will be incorporated into Auburn Township’s and City of Eastlake’s comprehensive plans. CRWP has discussed the possibility of including CRWP data into the City of Mentor plan update as well.

Task 4: 50% Completed. Auburn and Eastlake comprehensive plan updates are underway.

Task 5: 0% Completed. Documentation is being tracked and methodology will be completed at the close of this Objective.

Objective Description
Build on the work accomplished under Objective 1 and work with interested members to adopt and implement model regulations for riparian and wetland setbacks, conservation development, and comprehensive storm water management for water quality and quantity. Adoption of these regulations provides local governments tools to maintain stream and wetland functions as land is developed, ensures site features and water quality issues are considered early in the development process, and storm water management practices minimize water quality impacts. These regulations are the most cost effective and far reaching tools available to watershed planning organizations to improve land use because once adopted, they apply uniformly to all lands in a community.

Tasks to meet objectives
1. Present model regulations to at least 10 member communities. Completed

• Comprehensive Storm Water Management Model Regulation:
  • Orange Village: Worked with the Village to review code and provide feedback regarding necessary updates. CRWP will continue to work with the Village to assist with changes and adoption.
  • South Russell Village: Provided model regulation to Village for review. Regulation is in the process of being reviewed by the law director and Council Committee. CRWP will continue to work with the Village to assist with adoption process as needed.
• Riparian and Wetland Setback Model Regulation.
  • Village of Hunting Valley: Working with Village to update riparian setback code to include tributaries of the Chagrin River.
  • Implementation of code: Village of Gates Mills, and Hunting Valley
• Conservation Development Districts:
  • Village of Bentleyville: Presented conservation development zoning districts to Village Mayor and Engineer. CRWP will continue to work with the Village to tailor the model zoning code to meet Village needs.

2. Secure adoption of riparian and wetland setbacks in 2 communities and conservation development in 2 communities.

• CRWP completed a Conservation Development District model ordinance to use with communities to consider conservation development zoning in their zoning code.
• Village of Bentleyville: Presented conservation development district code to Village Mayor and Engineer. CRWP will continue to work with the Village to tailor the model zoning code and assist with adoption.

3. Secure adoption of comprehensive storm water management model regulation in 5 communities. Completed

4. Document the process in each community whereby regulations are adopted and develop methodology. CRWP will document adoption process for Conservation Development Zoning Code with the Village of Bentleyville.

Progress on Tasks
Task 1: 100% Completed.

Task 2: 75% Completed. : Presented conservation development district code to the Village of Bentleyville Mayor and Engineer.

Task 3: 100% Completed.

Task 4: 50% Completed. Documentation is being tracked and methodology will be completed at the close of this Objective.

Difficulties in Accomplishing Tasks
No difficulties were encountered during this reporting period.

Objective Description
Ohio NEMO will work with CRWP to identify representative sites, select appropriate models, develop input data sets, execute model simulations, and summarize results. Model selection will be driven by several factors including the physical characteristics of the study site, management scenarios that are to be modeled, and capabilities and limitations of the modeling tool. Ohio NEMO expects to use an urban hydrology model that is capable of simulating the impact of various management strategies, such as gutter disconnection, bioretention, and swales, on water quantity and quality for individual developments. For example, Ohio NEMO expects to use the Storm Water Management Model (SWMM) and Source Loading and Management Model (SLAMM). These computer models were developed to model both quantity and quality of storm water runoff in urban and urbanizing environments.

Please note that CRWP entered into a subcontract with Ohio NEMO on November 12, 2007 to complete Objectives 3 and 4. The following accomplishments were completed by the Modeling Team, composed of Ohio NEMO and staff from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, through this subcontract.

Tasks to meet objectives
1. Identify representative development sites. Completed

2. Model selection. Completed

3. Data collection and preparation. Completed

4. Develop management scenarios. Completed
Additional management scenarios were proposed to include detention basin configurations for all land uses and pervious pavement on parking lots of commercial properties were developed.

5. Execute model simulations and summarize results.

• The additional development scenarios proposed under Objective 4 were added to the total model simulations completed.
• A total of 31 scenarios have been completed for a range of rainfall events.

Progress on Tasks
Task 1: Completed.

Task 2: Completed.

Task 3: Completed.

Task 4: Completed.

Task 5: 70% Completed. The model simulations have been completed and are being integrated into a final report.

Difficulties in Accomplishing Tasks
An error in the modeling software was identified. The error was traced to one of two components of the model and the software authors were notified. Corrections will be made to future releases and are currently not available to the project team. The results will be reported using the data currently available.

Objective Description
Ohio NEMO will develop watershed-scale scenarios to evaluate the potential of stream rehabilitation and other storm water management practices to meet comprehensive storm water management goals. This approach will incorporate results from Objective 3 and use HEC-GeoRAS (or equivalent) to model impacts at a watershed scale. HEC-GeoRAS will also be used to evaluate the storm water management benefits of floodplain detention associated with stream rehabilitation.

Tasks to meet objectives
1. Identify representative subwatersheds. Completed

2. Model selection. Completed

3. Data collection and preparation. Completed Revisions were made to the data preparation methods to better suit the needs of the intended user group, and reduced modeling effort to a manageable scale.

4. Execute model simulations and summarize results. Model simulations were executed using the revised model. A total of 13 combinations of land use, type of drainage system, and amount of connected impervious area were modeled.

Progress on Tasks
Task 1: Completed.

Task 2: Completed.

Task 3: Completed.

Task 4: 75% completed. All the model simulations have been run, and the results have been summarized in tables and are being integrated into a summary report.

Difficulties in Accomplishing Tasks
No difficulties were encountered during this reporting period. Changes to watershed scale modeling approach required additional time; however, the changes have greatly improved the efficiency of future modeling exercises.

Objective Description
Through Objective 5, CRWP will coordinate with Ohio NEMO, Ohio Lake Erie Commission Balanced Growth Project pilot watersheds, watershed coordinators in Ohio, and local, regional and state audiences to disseminate the results and lessons learned from Objectives 1 to 4 this Project.

Tasks to meet objectives
1. Disseminate methodologies from Objectives 1 to 4 to the Ohio Lake Erie Commission Balanced Growth Pilot Projects, watershed coordinators, and local, regional and state audiences. CRWP presented to the following groups:

• The Little Miami River Partnership Water Quality Symposium in October on Storm Water Management and Watershed Planning to Protect Headwater Streams. The presentation focused on the impacts of land use change on a watershed and the structural and non-structural tools to prevent and mitigate impacts.
• URS, Corp. Cleveland office, Sustainability Group in November on watershed planning tools to prevent the impacts of land use change.
• Northeast Ohio Regional Park Conference in December on watershed planning tools to prevent the impacts of land use change.

2. Coordinate with Ohio NEMO and partners on training for Objectives 3 and 4 results. Ohio NEMO conducted an informal presentation on the modeling approach and findings of the study to the group of scientists at The Nature Conservancy in February 2009.

3. Host at least 1 training session.

• CRWP is a member of the Northeast Ohio Storm Water Training Council (NEOSWTC). The Council will be sponsoring 7 training session in 2009 on various storm water subjects.
  • CRWP is in charge of planning the training session: Implementing Planning Tools for Better Development ­ Non-Structural BMP Case Studies. The session will include presentations and case studies on riparian and wetland setbacks and conservation development.
  • CRWP will be working with the NEOSWTC, Ohio Coastal Training Program and Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve to plan and develop the University of New Hampshire Post-Construction BMP Performance ­ Research Results and Design Guidance workshop in 2009.
• CRWP will work with the training council to incorporate the results from Objectives 3 and 4 into the 2009 training sessions.
• CRWP will continue to look for opportunities to partner with Ohio EPA, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, county soil and water conservation districts, and local education institutions to develop training on storm water and balanced growth objectives for Northeast Ohio.

Progress on Tasks
Task 1: 50% Completed. CRWP will continue to disseminate and present information to Balanced Growth Pilot Projects, watershed coordinators, and other interested audiences.

Task 2: 60% Completed. Continue to coordinate with Ohio NEMO and CRWP local partners on training.

Task 3: 50% Completed. Continue planning for 2009 training sessions.

Data Generated to date
The files generated during this reporting period and included with this report are as follows.
Objective 1: City of Willoughby Council Minutes adopting the Balanced Growth Maps and Comprehensive Plan.

Objective 2: Conservation Development District Model Ordinance.

Objective 3 and 4: Matrix of modeled development site and watershed scale scenarios.

Objective 5: CRWP presentations.

Project Objectives for Next Reporting Period

Objectives
Objective 1: CRWP will continue to work on Tasks 2, 3, and 4 during the next reporting period. Work for each Task is as follows:

• Tasks 3 and 4: Complete comprehensive plan updates for Auburn, Eastlake, and Mentor.
• Task 5: Document completed tasks in Objective 1.

Objective 2: CRWP will continue to work on Tasks 2 and 4 during the next reporting period. Work for each Task is as follows:

• Task 2: Work with at least 1 additional community to adopt a conservation development ordinance.
• Task 4: Continue to document adoption process in member communities, and start to develop a document that outlines the process and methodology used in the adoption process.

Objective 3 and 4: Finish the summary reports and education materials.

Objective 5: CRWP will continue to work on Tasks 1 through 3 to present at, and coordinate and develop training opportunities that will disseminate the information and results from Objectives 1 to 4. Work for each Task is as follows:

• Task 1: Continue presenting the results from Objectives 1 to 4 to local, regional and state audiences.
• Task 2 and 3: Plan and develop regional training opportunities with Ohio NEMO and CRWP partners for 2009. CRWP, Ohio NEMO and ODNR will be presenting at the 2009 Ohio Storm Water Conference in Cincinnati, OH. This is a state wide conference for engineers, planners, and elected officials.

Work Plan to Meet Objectives
Objective 1: CRWP will continue to work with Auburn, Eastlake, and Mentor comprehensive plan updates.

Objective 2: CRWP will continue to work with the Village of Bentleyville to tailor and adopt a conservation development zoning code, and detail for member communities the benefits of updating codes and offer to assist with updates and the adoption process. Develop a methodology/process of adoption and implementation for each model ordinance.

Objectives 3 and 4: CRWP and the Modeling Team will summarize the results in a final report, and educational materials.

Objective 5: CRWP will continue to present information on Objectives 1 to 4 to Member communities and to local, regional and statewide audiences; and coordinate and plan regional training opportunities with Ohio NEMO and CRWP partners.

Expenditures
Expenditures for this project are on target for work that has been completed.

What Else?
Over the course of this grant project, Objective 1, to develop methodology for and integrate best available natural resource data into local comprehensive plans, has been a stepping stone for CRWP to discuss with Member the steps to implement their comprehensive plan and community land use goals. Focusing the planning discussion on natural and economic resources within a community has provided the foundation for zoning and planning code discussions and reviews for parking, floodplain, conservation development, riparian setback, and storm water regulations to ensure these implementation tools reflect the planning goals. Elected officials are considering their community in terms of the resources that are available for economic development, and natural resources that are worth preserving to maintain function and benefits they provide.