Using Low Impact Development to Mitigate Stormwater Thermal Loads

Charlene LeBleu, FASLA, AICP

Urban development contributes to alterations in the thermal regime of a watershed. Stormwater exiting urban heat islands results in thermal pollution, and may alter the ecological integrity of receiving waters. This presentation reports on assessing Low Impact Development (LID) stormwater control measure impacts on the thermal characteristics of stormwater runoff in a controlled laboratory setting. Findings show that LID stormwater control measures (SCMs) such as pervious surfaces and rain gardens/bioretention can contribute in mitigating thermal loads from stormwater runoff. This laboratory study captured and infiltrated simulated stormwater runoff form four infrared heated microcosms (pervious concrete, impervious concrete, permeable concrete pavers, and turf grass), and sent the stormwater runoff through rain garden microcosms. A data logging system with thermistors located on, within and outside the microcosms was used to record stormwater runoff temperature change. The importance of this research helps established a baseline of data to study heat the removal effectiveness of LID SCMs when used alone or in a treatment train.

Presented by Charlene LeBleu, FASLA, AICP

Auburn University

Charlene LeBleu, FASLA, AICP, is an Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture in the School of Architecture, Planning & Landscape Architecture at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama. Her primary areas of interest and research have been focused on coastal planning and design, and water quality issues, especially issues related to low impact development design. She is a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects (FASLA), and a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). LeBleu is Past-President of the Council of Educators in Landscape Architecture (CELA). She is a former Editor-in-Chief of Landscape Research Record, the official conference proceedings of the annual CELA conference, and a former Vice-President of Research and Creative Scholarship (2014 – 2016) for CELA. She has a B.S. Forest Resources and Conservation from the University of Florida, and a Master of Landscape Architecture, and a Master of Community Planning from Auburn University. Comprised of 120 institutions from around the world, CELA encourages, supports and furthers education in the field of landscape architecture, specifically related to teaching, research, scholarship, and public service.