Porous Parking Lots Ease Storm Water Damage In Pa
A new parking area paved with a permeable covering has replaced an impervious surface municipal lot where oil and other residue from vehicles would accumulate and then wash into Baker Creek when it rained or snow melted.
Kelly Burch, Northwest regional director with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, visited the new municipal parking lot in North East Borough last week. The project was financed through a $150,000 Growing Greener grant from the state of Pennsylvania.
“Paved surfaces like parking lots interrupt the natural recharging of groundwater,” Burch said. “That can lead to contamination, erosion and the muddying of streams when we have heavy rainfalls that cause a lot of runoff. This project will significantly cut back on urban-related pollution entering Baker Creek, which runs alongside the parking lot.” Growing Greener has helped to develop five porous pavement parking lots in Erie County, providing examples for future pavement projects with the goal of reducing storm water runoff and eliminating or reducing the need for stormwater detention.
The Baker Creek Watershed Association received the grant to create 320 feet of new streamside buffer, nearly 8,000 square feet of green space, 340 square yards of infiltration galley and 1,350 square yards of pervious parking service in the center of the downtown.
In addition, roof runoff from surrounding business building was captured and redirected into infiltration galleys to eliminate the surface flushing effect.
In addition to the permeable surface that will allow precipitation to be filtered as it percolates into the ground, native plants and a bioretention area are being installed to further improve the ecological functioning of the area.
North East Borough, the North East Chamber of Commerce, the Northeast Shade Tree Commission, the North East Garden Club and downtown North East businesses contributed funds and in-kind services to complement the state’s Growing Greener funding contribution.
In addition to the Growing Greener grant, the Great Lakes Commission contributed $98,000 under its program to control erosion and sedimentation within the Great Lakes Basin; the DEP Coastal Zone Management Program provided $10,640 for parking lot planning and design; and the Environmental Fund for Pennsylvania offered $5,000 for riparian buffer vegetation.
The other permeable pavement lots in Erie County are at the Asbury Woods Trail Head, the Erie County Conservation District, Unitarian Church and Bayfront Center for Maritime Studies.
Provided by the Environmental News Service.