We spoke with Potomac Riverkeeper Dean Najouks about environmental issues related to stormwater runoff resulting from stripping the ECC field of trees, grass topsoil and installing artificial turf. His comments were eye-opening. We had no idea stormwater runoff was such a serious pollution concern.
Stormwater Pollution Overview
- It’s the #1 pollution problem in the nation, including post construction runoff, sediment, and urban stormwater pollution.
- It’s the only source of pollution today that is growing, while the others are decreasing.
- Carries pollutants, trash, pet waste throughout the watershed
- Erodes urban stream banks and scours the bottom, channelizing and lowering the stream bed and hindering beneficial floodplain actions.
- Scouring also brings more sediments down into the Chesapeake Bay. Phosphorus attaches to sediments along the way, further increasing pollution in the Chesapeake.
- But most people — and importantly, local governments — are not aware of this issue.
Stormwater Regulation
- Done at the county / local level, not at the federal level
- Requirements to mitigate stormwater damage are minimal, and typically address nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment, and sometimes impairment to local streams. They do not address the volume of stormwater runoff, which is the biggest source of pollution from development projects.
- Important: Stormwater ponds are only required to deal with regulated pollutants, not volume control. DC stormwater regulations only address regulated pollutants and 15-year storms, not the volume of water. They need to be updated to factor in increasingly frequent and intense rainfall events
- Every developer has to get a NPDES stormwater permit from the EPA, but these requirements are minimal in addressing pollution prevention.
About Artificial Turf
- According to BZA, Maret will put “environmentally friendly” artificial turf over 3.7 acres.
- But it’s not just the materials of the turf and fill below it (microplastics and possible toxic recycled tire rubber) that is problematic. Artificial turf installation removes water absorbing topsoil down to the clay, packs it even further with heavy earthmoving equipment, and creates a dead zone beneath it so no air or nutrients can penetrate and will kill any insects or animals living in the soil, including bees, cicadas, earthworms.
- Stormwater does not percolate into the ground, rather it is captured in pipes below the surface and sent away. Runoff is not minimized, it is increased and sent to Rock Creek Park, and ultimately the Chesapeake. The runoff can be harvested and used locally, but this rarely happens
- It takes thousands of years for topsoil to develop, but soil can easily be lost through erosion by wind or water. Natural grass helps significantly in preventing this from happening. But to install artificial turf, the soil must be heavily compacted, this damages the structure of the soil and kills soil microbes, and even damage tree roots nearby.
- We need to find out the brand of artificial turf that is planned, and find out about how it affects water retention on site
What Can Be Done
- Overall: Focus on stormwater runoff issues and the impact on Rock Creek and the community. Advocate for green infrastructure, low impact development, pervious pavement, rain gardens, buffers, All development should go above and beyond what is required by DC regulations, especially when it comes to stormwater volume.
