Abstract: Assessing the Possibilities of the West Creek Watershed Stewardship Center Vegetated Roof

Results of our work on green infrastructure at Cleveland Metroparks Watershed Stewardship Center will make its debut at the CitiesAlive 13th Annual Green Roofs & Walls Conference, in New York, NY from October 5th to October 8th, 2015.

Assessing the Possibilities of the West Creek Watershed Stewardship Center Vegetated Roof

Jessie Hawkins, Reid Coffman, Anne Jefferson, Lauren Kinsman-Costello

The vegetated roof at the Cleveland Metroparks’ Watershed Stewardship Center is an element in a suite of green infrastructure approaches, intended to be educational components, showcasing various methods of stormwater management. This study reviews estimation and design decision making tools to understand expected performance. Field data will be used to assess the current conditions of the roof in order to make recommendations for improvement of the existing vegetated roof system.

The planting design for the roof was intended to intercept rainfall with prostrate vegetation, pre-grown in 4 inch thick trays planted with varieties of Sedum spp. and Allium senescens. Plant species composition and biomass will be assessed in regard to stormwater performance and biodiversity, allowing for an invertebrate habitat. Soil samples taken from the roof have been analyzed for infiltration and nutrient content. Nutrient concentrations will be assessed in rainwater and compared to water flowing off the roof, determining if the roof is a source of nutrients to the downstream ecosystems. Sound reduction and thermal properties will be assessed with the results used for recommendation, serving as a resource guideline for local implementation.

Ground level view of the green roof, April 2015. Photo by A. Jefferson.