An Added Incentive: Restoring an Urban Stream to Support SITES™ Certification
Dani Wise Johnson, MS CERP
Blueline Environmental
Richmond, VA
Many refer to the SITES™ (Sustainable Sites Initiative) Certification as LEED™ for landscapes. It is also managed by the US Green Building Council and is a rigorous, multi-phase process, described by USGBC as an opportunity to “create sustainable and resilient land development projects using nature-based solutions”. SITES™ Certification for a project can result in enhanced biodiversity and potential mitigation of climate change impacts. Other benefits may include: conservation of resources, improving public health and protecting critical ecosystems. Our client is pursuing this certification at an industrial site in Virginia, and once certified, it will be the first, of it’s kind, in the US. The project began as a “renovation” of an industrial lay-down yard, including storage building construction, and stormwater retro-fits for management and treatment. A stream runs along the eastern boundary of the site and was in significant disrepair. The eroding banks were severely undercutting the fence line and asphalt where machinery and other large, heavy equipment are stored. Impacts from surrounding development, contaminants from urban runoff, and restrictions to the floodplain have all contributed to the deterioration of this stream.
Once the goal of achieving a SITES™ certification was set, the stream restoration was the de facto star of the show. The complex certification process begins well within the design phase of the stream project, coordinates with all activities to be completed on-site - even those outside of the stream work - and continues through permitting, construction, and long-term maintenance.
This presentation walks through the process, requirements, and benefits of achieving this type of certification for a restoration project. We anticipate an increasing focus on ecological restoration and nature-based solutions in the built environment in response to climate change impacts, and believe the opportunities for SITES™ designation will continue to grow.
About Dani Wise Johnson, MS CERP
Dani is a hydrologist focusing on river restoration and improving aquatic ecosystems across the US. She has experience in the realms of ecological restoration, hydrological studies, master planning, and policy development through her work in academia, the private sector, and with a non-profit organization. Dani has spent much of her career educating other professionals, corporations, and regulatory agencies on hydrological processes and ways to improve and protect water resources. Dani holds a BS in Environmental Science from the College of William and Mary, a Master’s degree in Watershed Hydrology from NC State University, and has pursued on-going educational opportunities throughout her career. While Dani has lived and worked in various locations across the country, she currently resides in Richmond, Virginia and appreciates the proximity to her home river, the mighty James.