In 2019, the state of Utah issued a stormwater-retention standard requiring that 0.6 to 0.7 inches of the rain that falls onto impervious surfaces during storms be captured instead of carrying pollutants into rivers, streams, and lakes. To help developers and cities meet the standard, Salt Lake County hired Barr to create a master plan for incorporating low-impact-development (LID) practices (also called stormwater best management practices, or BMPs) into the county’s government-center campus.
Barr is preparing a plan that showcases numerous options for managing stormwater—such as rain gardens, tree trenches, bioswales, and porous pavement—that mimic natural systems and integrate rainfall into the water cycle instead of shunting it into storm sewers. We’re also providing a range of estimated costs for constructing those features.
By having a master plan that features conceptual designs, the county hopes to gain an edge in applying for grants to fund implementation of those BMPs. Other goals of the plan include creating aesthetically appealing landscape features, promoting environmental awareness and education, reducing operations and maintenance costs, and providing tools with which to measure runoff reduction.