Workshop 6
Design Standards for Natural & Nature-Based Solutions, Part 1
About the Workshop
On March 22, 2023 the Nature-Based Exchange held its sixth workshop at the Phillips Market Center (at the SC State Farmers Market) in Columbia, SC. The sixth workshop was the first of two workshops to examine design standards for natural and nature-based solutions (NNBS). This workshop explored design standards from the perspectives of practitioners and academia. Practitioners discussed the technical design aspects associated with NNBS projects, including design details, specifications, and source material. They also discussed best practices and challenges for scaling up this kind of work. Academia explained what the state of the practice is now and what today's students are being taught in the classroom (as well as what opportunities are out there). Through their presentations, the speakers demonstrated that NNBS are the new standard, not a risky or temporary fad. A big thanks to The Nature Conservancy for sponsoring the venue and to Clemson Extension Carolina Clear Program for providing lunch.
Agenda
Speakers
Continuing Education Credit Information
Compendium
Key Takeaways:
Design Takeaways
In the design industry, the three factors that impact decision making are risk, cost, and regulations.
Risk is inherently part of the design process, but there are ways to manage risk that support the long-term co-benefits provided by nature-based solutions.
When planning for risk, designers should document and explain any uncertainty in the design and should describe specific consequences of failure.
When determining the cost of a nature-based project, consider the life cycle costs of the entire project, including the costs for constructing, operating, maintaining, and decommissioning the infrastructure.
Offering clients multiple design concepts that range from green to gray allows the designer to demonstrate the benefits of nature-based solutions while allowing the client to select the option that best suits their needs and desires.
When designing nature-based projects, designers should define project objectives at the beginning of the project, consider a range of future scenarios and extreme events, understand base drivers throughout their entire life cycle, and implement rigorous monitoring and modeling.
There are many aspects of living systems that should be considered when designing any nature-based project, including soil, water, flora, and fauna. Large-scale processes such as energy flow, water and nutrient cycles, community dynamics, and climate should also be incorporated into the design.
It is recommended to analyze the ecosystem surrounding the site as well as the site itself. During analysis, pay attention to the focal species you want to attract; soil health, movement, and restoration; native plant presence, genetics, distribution, and abundance; and enhancement features that can be added to support and enhance the habitat.
The past is the best reference when designing for the future. Therefore, designers should consider past and present communities and conditions in their design considerations.
Assigning a designated design manager as well as discipline leads will make the design process smoother and will improve communication and understanding among the project team, especially on large projects.
Flexibility and adaptability are needed throughout the design process and into construction.
Education Takeaways
Clemson Extension brings science-based information to the public in an accessible, self-paced, and customizable format.
Use a hybrid training approach that combines an online classroom with a field day experience. (Online courses are asynchronous and include discussion forums, online quizzes, and a final exam. Field days offer hands-on training for the material covered in the course. Worksheets and handouts make field days and post-course work easy by providing guidance.)
Certification courses: Compliance-Based Stormwater Certification Courses (multiple), Master Pond Manager, Post Construction BMP Inspector, and Master Rain Gardener.
Short courses: Dam Ownership in SC Short Course and The Salt Marsh Short Course.
Courses in Development: Living Shorelines Training Program and Stormwater Plan Education for Engineering Design (SPEED).
Resources:
Stability Design
Geometry Calculations
Other Resources
Presentations
NBS Design Process Case Study: Pensacola East Bay Oyster Habitat Restoration Project
By: David Bell, PWS, Jacobs
In his presentation, David Bell recounted the design process taken by the Jacobs team when they completed an oyster restoration project in Florida. Using the project as a case study, David walked through us every step of the way through the preliminary design, from materials and shapes considered, to determining the final project layout and modeling, to construction challenges and post-construction monitoring. When designing with risk management in mind, designs should consider these important ideas:
Design provides opportunities for both success and failure.
As the design progresses, risks should become better understood and mitigated.
Successful nature-based design should meet co-benefit objectives but also be build to last.
Design should mitigate risk.
Engineering Design Standards for Nature-Based Solutions to Water Management
By: Joshua Robinson, MS, PE, Robinson Design Engineers
View the accompanying slides:
In his presentation, Joshua Robinson explored nature-based solutions from a water management lens. He explained that there are three main factors that drive decision making in engineering design: risk, cost, and regulations. At the end of his presentation, Joshua left us with designers four recommendations:
Engineering designs for water management projects should document and explain the uncertainty of the designs and describe the specific consequences of failure. [Risk]
Engineering designs should consider life cycle costs – including the cost of constructing, operating, maintaining, and decommissioning the infrastructure for its entire life span. [Cost]
Engineering designs for water management projects should include alternative analyses for a range of solutions ranging from conventional to natural. [Regulations]
We need better laws in South Carolina.
Nature Based Solutions . . . Living Systems
By: Keith Bowers, FASLA, PLA, PWS, Biohabitats, Inc.
In his presentation, Keith Bowers discussed how living systems can be incorporated into the design process. He explained that natural components (including soil, water, flora, and fauna) should be considered alongside natural processes (such as energy flow, water cycle, nutrient cycle, community dynamics, and climate). Keith delved into four categories of living systems and offered takeaways for each:
Reference Communities
Restore for the future, use historical fidelity as your guide.
Choose reference communities carefully – choose more than one if needed.
Select focal species to guide design decisions and verify ecological intent.
Revegetation
It takes a community.
Right plant, right place.
Look back, plant forward.
Availability
Soils
Assess
Protect
Plan
Amend
Adopt
Habitat Enhancement
Wood is good, more is better.
Reinforce native fauna, consider food webs.
Manage, adaptively.
Clemson Extension Water Resources Programing
By: Kim Morganello, Clemson Extension
In her presentation, Kim Morganello described the educational courses, management training, and engagement opportunities that Clemson Extension offers through their water resources program. Her in-depth look at what education is available reminds us that nature-based solutions are the new standard and that opportunities exist for professionals to expand their certifications while also enabling the public to become more knowledgeable on topics associated with nature-based solutions.
More information on these programs can be found at clemson.edu/extension/water.