- Students
from the Auburn University Landscape Architecture (AULA) Department,
a NEMO Partner, provided Alexander City with a community
blueprint for watershed restoration practices. The blueprint
was intended to encourage stormwater infiltration and storage.
Recommendations included the use of pervious concrete, rain gardens
and stream restoration and are now being considered for implementation.
- As
a result of AL NEMO’s educational efforts and support,
the fast-growing City of Fairhope is conducting a natural
resource inventory to identify and prioritize areas
for natural resource protection.
- The
City of Pike Road participated in a stakeholder led planning
process in the Spring of 2005, with the Auburn University Landscape
Architecture (AULA) team. AULA students created stormwater
friendly designs for a proposed horse park and trail.
- In
response to state Stormwater Phase II requirements, the Cities
of Auburn and Opelika, Auburn University and Lee County formed
a stormwater think tank to tackle new regulations,
improve stormwater management and have a consistent regional
message. AL NEMO representatives help guide the group’s
decisions and recommendations. NEMO has also assisted in the
creation of educational brochures that target erosion and sediment
control, stormwater management resources and post-construction
stormwater management practices.
- As
a result of AL NEMO’s educational efforts and support,
the fast-growing City of Fairhope has developed a Master
Plan that encourages the creation of walk-able villages
and preserves open space along waterfront areas. Trussville,
located in Alabama’s fastest growing region (Birmingham),
is developing greenway and open space plans.
- The
AL NEMO Program has been working with the City of Trussville
to protect the picturesque Cahaba River, the last remaining free-running
river contained within Alabama. As a result, the city has passed
a Cahaba River Overlay District, which creates
a 125 foot buffer along the river. The district is divided into
three sections, with land use restrictions progressively increasing
with proximity to the river.
- Mobile
Bay is the second fastest growing region of Alabama. AL NEMO
has helped the City of Fairhope lead a regional initiative to
protect the Bay as the region grows. Fairhope has developed a comprehensive
erosion and sediment control ordinance that has also
been adopted by two other cities along the Eastern shore of the
bay.
- The
AL NEMO Program has partnered with Alexander City, the Alabama
Cooperative Extension Program—Tallapoosa County, the Auburn
University Landscape Architecture (AULA) Department and the Middle
Tallapoosa Clean Water Partnership to install four rain
garden demonstration projects throughout the city. The
demonstrations are part of an overall effort to protect Lake
Martin from stormwater runoff. In addition, Auburn University
is getting its own house in order, implementing a stream
restoration project using natural channel design and
installing pervious concrete on campus.
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Spotlight
On...
Fairhope
is an innovative city adopting new development practices and
initiating new plans to protect natural resources. The City
is located in southwest Alabama on the eastern shore of Mobile
Bay, in one of the fastest growing counties in the state. Working
with members of the Alabama NEMO Task Force, Fairhope officials
have begun to institute many innovative programs that will
ensure their leadership in smart growth planning. Examples
include:
Planning
and “Smart Growth”
Fairhope has parks and green spaces interspersed throughout the
community. Fairhope will continue its open space planning efforts
in collaboration with AL NEMO as part of the EPA/NEMO Smart Growth
Initiative, including emphases on: • Shoreline
protection and public access to local waters. • Creating
bicycle and pedestrian networks to and between residential and
commercial areas to encourage neighborhood and community feeling. • Planning
for land use that centers on the “walkable village” concept.
Stormwater
Best Management Practices
The City partnered with Sherman International Corporation and
the Coastal Alabama Clean Water Partnership to install permeable
concrete at one of their new city facilities. An educational
display on stormwater and polluted runoff will promote water
quality stewardship at this highly visible downtown facility.
Projects include: • Perma-Turf (plastic grate topped with
grass) at city lift stations, as an asphalt/concrete alternative. • Effective
stormwater ordinances and educational brochures on sedimentation
management, outlining penalties for violation. Future projects
include implementing additional innovative urban stormwater bmps,
including bio-retention areas.
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