7-19-05
Campus Erosion and Sediment Control Project Funded
A proposal developed by Pennsylvania Sea Grant to study erosion and sediment control at three locations on the Penn State Behrend campus has received funding from the Great Lakes Commission. The GLC awarded a grant of $43,350 to implement the yearlong project, and Pennsylvania Sea Grant and Penn State's Office of Physical Plant will combine to provide a $19,280 match.
"Sediment from erosion is a key factor in Great Lakes pollution," said Dave Skellie, coastal land use and economic specialist for Pennsylvania Sea Grant. "One goal of this project is to resolve erosion and eliminate stream sedimentation at three locations on campus: the detention pond outfall west of the engineering parking lot; the small mid-campus stream that runs past Glenhill; and the detention pond outfall near the baseball field, all of which empty into Trout Run, a tributary of Four Mile Creek."
Skellie indicated that Urban Engineers of Erie will be hired not only to review and resolve erosion problems, but also to review stormwater management infrastructure currently in place on campus and develop a plan to help guide future projects using best management practices (BMPs). For example, future building designs could include "green" roofs, and existing parking lots or sidewalks might be replaced with porous pavement as part of a "green infrastructure" demonstration project.
A third goal of the project is to provide increased education about erosion mediation in partnership with PA Sea Grant's Non-Point Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) program, the Greener Behrend Task Force, and the Pennsylvania-Lake Erie Watershed Association (PLEWA). These organizations will disseminate information to the public and to the Behrend community regarding the erosion mediation projects and how the relate to "Growing Greener" initiatives.
A fourth goal is for PA Sea Grant to partner with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Four Mile Creek Watershed Committee (a subcommittee of PLEWA) to determine the possibility of developing a site at Penn State Behrend for public access to Four Mile Creek near Cooper Road. The site would likely incorporate porous pavement in the design for any parking area that would be developed there.
Sean Rafferty, coastal outreach specialist with PA Sea Grant, will assist with educational outreach and brochure development during the implementation of the project.