NE Siskiyou Green Street Project

NE Siskiyou Street between NE 35th Pl. and NE 36th Ave., Portland, Oregon

Project Summary

Project Type: Stormwater retrofit to an existing residential street – demonstration project

Technology: A pair of stormwater curb extensions
Major Benefits: • The extensions capture runoff from approximately 9,300 sq. ft. of paved surfaces, treating and
infiltrating a large proportion of the runoff (see Flow Test Report1).
• The curb extensions converted about 590 square feet of pavement to landscape.
• They are attractive additions to the neighborhood, improve the urban environment, and increase
pedestrian safety at the intersection.
Cost: The total project cost, including management, design, and construction was $20,000 of which $3,000 is
attributed to ancillary street and sidewalk repairs costs that may not be needed for other similar projects.
Total cost for the stormwater curb extensions only was $17,000 or $1.83 per square foot of impervious area
managed.
Constructed: City crews constructed the extensions in two weeks in October 2003.
Maintenance Portland Parks and Recreation will maintain the facilities during the two-year establishment period (until
October 2005); the source of long-term maintenance services is to be determined.

Features

• This was Portland’s first Green Street project to use

landscaped stormwater curb extensions to manage street
runoff.

• The design provides water quality treatment but also

maximizes infiltration of the runoff. Each facility has
four compartments separated by check dams to promote
infiltration.

• The project demonstrates one of the simplest types of

Green Street retrofits. The existing street curb was left
intact and no modifications were made to the
stormwater collection system.

• The design integrates well with its surroundings. The

low evergreen plantings blend with landscape areas on
the adjacent residential properties.

• The adjacent neighbors have played a major role in

maintaining the two facilities, providing seasonal
watering and weeding.

1
Flow Test Report for the Siskiyou Curb Extension, October 2004; BES
March 2005
NE Siskiyou Green Street Project Report: Completed April 2005
 Background
The Environmental Services Sustainable Management Team undertook the project in 2003 as part of
an on-going evaluation of techniques for managing runoff from streets. Urban stormwater runoff
pollutes rivers and streams and contributes to combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to the Willamette
River. It can also cause localized backups of the combined sewer during large storms.

Stormwater curb extensions hold particular promise as a sustainable practice for managing runoff from
existing streets. These natural systems capture and filter runoff and allow it to infiltrate into the
ground. They are an alternative to traditional stormwater sumps for managing street runoff. In addition
to treating and disposing of runoff, they integrate well with existing neighborhood vegetation and
generally improve the urban environment. Portland has constructed many curb extensions over the
years to improve pedestrian safety; this new version of the curb extension provides many additional
benefits.

The project on Siskiyou was the first retrofit to an existing street in Portland. Environmental Services
built a second set of curb extensions on Ankeny Street (at SE 56th) in 2004, and by 2005 both the City
and private developers were implementing a number of similar projects. These types of facilities can
be constructed in a variety of configurations, as retrofits or as part of new development, and are
referred to alternatively as bump-out swales, pocket swales, or street stormwater planters.

North Curb Extension

NE Siskiyou Street

South Curb Extension

NE Siskiyou Green Street Plan View

NE Siskiyou Green Street Project Report: Completed April 2005

 Site Selection Criteria

• Traffic Impacts: City traffic engineers considered the low-traffic residential setting ideal for a
demonstration project. The street is 28 feet wide. The addition of two 7-foot wide curb extensions
created an acceptable queuing configuration.
• Stormwater Catchment Areas: The size of the catchment, a little over 9,000 sq. ft., was
considered fairly representative of conditions in the surrounding neighborhood.
• Utility Conflicts: Water lines were the only subsurface utilities within the project area and did not
present obstacles. See a detailed discussion under “System Configuration.”
• Loss of Parking Spaces: The project did not eliminate on-street parking. Adjacent property
owners can park in front of their houses on SE 35th Place.
• Street Slope: The moderate street slope (2%) was suitable for a first test of the technology.
• Suitability For Monitoring: The configuration of the local combined sewer allowed for placement
of a flow monitor. There is also a rain gage near the project.
• Soil Infiltration Rates: Specialized infiltration tests were not required at the site. See “Stormwater
Capacity and System Configuration” for details.
• Space Available for the Facilities: The space available for the curb extensions – length of curb
unbroken by driveways or near a fire hydrant – is considered representative of conditions in other
areas.

Stormwater Capacity and System Configuration

Stormwater Management Goals
The objective was to maximize the capture,
treatment, and infiltration of street runoff while
providing a visual amenity for the
neighborhood and improved pedestrian safety.

Geotechnical Evaluation
An infiltration test was not required before
construction. Adequate documentation of
characteristics of the local soils already existed.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service
(NRCS) soil survey for Multnomah County
classifies the soils as 51A-Urban Land and
well-drained Multnomah soils. The surface
horizon typically is dark brown silt loam about
25” thick. Soil below this depth is gravelly silt
loam and gravelly sand to a depth of
approximately 60”.
March 2005

NE Siskiyou Green Street Project Report: Completed April 2005

 NE Siskiyou Green Street (Cross Section)

NE Siskiyou Green Street Project Report: Completed April 2005

System Configuration
With few exceptions, the two curb extensions are identical in
configuration.

Catchment Areas (pavement, driveways):

• North curb extension: 3,000 square feet
• South curb extension: 6,300 square feet
Street Slope: Approximately 2%
Facility Dimensions (applies to each facility):
• Length: 60 feet; width: 7 feet
• Total area: 275 square feet
• Depth at curb: 6 inches
• Depth at center: 12 inches
• Maximum ponding depth: 7 inches at center
Internal Storage Volume: 120 cubic feet
Overflow: Overflow exits through a curb cut at the west end
of the facility, draining to the combined sewer via the
street gutter and the existing street inlet. No
modifications were made to the inlet.
Check Dams: Each curb extension has three checkdams, with
four separate compartments for ponding runoff and
slowing its passage through the facility.
Additional Information:
• The asphalt crown on Siskiyou Street is north of the
center of the street, a large factor in the difference in
catchment sizes.
• The gravel subgrade under the asphalt on Siskiyou
Street is about 4 inches thick.
• The two extensions were excavated to a depth of 14
inches below grade. The native soil was tilled prior to
importing 8 inches of soil mix and then the material
was tilled a second time. There is not a gravel trench
underlying the facility (a common feature of some
designs).
• Excavation in the north extension intersected the top
of a gravel-filled trench containing a water utility
line. The trench runs the length of the middle of the
facility, about 3 feet from the pre-existing curb.
Excavation of the southern extension did not intersect
the adjacent water utility trench, which runs
underneath the new curb (about seven feet off the pre-
existing curb).
• The check dams were constructed of compacted clay
and covered with pea gravel and river rock to
minimize erosion. See “Success and Lessons
Learned” for details.
• The first compartment (forebay) in each curb
extension has the same configuration and planting regime as the other compartments.

NE Siskiyou Green Street Project Report: Completed April 2005

Landscaping
The facilities were excavated throughout to 14 inches
below grade and backfilled with a 3-way mix of sand,
topsoil, and compost. The mix was tilled into the native
soil and spread to create a shallow parabolic cross section
(see illustration).

The plants were selected for their drought tolerance,

evergreen foliage, and short stature. The typical mature
height of the plants is less than two feet. These
characteristics were a priority in order to minimize
maintenance and address safety concerns. The most
common plants, including sedges, rushes, ferns, and
broadleaf evergreen shrubs, are native species. The
planting plan also included some non-native plants,
primarily to provide seasonal color accents. Rushes are
the dominant plant in the lowest portions of the two
facilities. Their stiff structure helps slow the passage of
water and they thrive in the variable moisture conditions.
There is no permanent irrigation system in the curb
extensions.

The plants were installed at a density greater than

required by the Environmental Services Stormwater
Management Manual in order to reduce weeding and
other maintenance requirements and to quickly create an Curb cuts: inflow point (top), side inlet (bottom)
aesthetically appealing landscape.

BOTANICAL NAME COMMON NAME PNW Native

SHRUBS
Euonymus japonica "Microphylla" Boxleaf Euonymus no
Mahonia repens Creeping Oregon Grape yes
Polyshtichum munitum Swordfern yes

PERENNIALS
Helictotrichon sempervirens Blue Oat Grass no
Deschamsia caespitosa "Northern Lights" Variegated Tufted Hair Grass native cultivar
Iris spp. Iris Bulbs no
Narcissus spp. Daffodil bulbs no

BASIN PLANTINGS
Carex testacea New Zealand Orange Sedge no
Juncus patens California Grey Rush yes

NE Siskiyou Green Street Plant List

NE Siskiyou Green Street Project Report: Completed April 2005

 Project Costs
The final project cost was $20,000 for design, management, construction activities, and ancillary
sidewalk repairs.

I. Budget Elements

1. Construction Management and Overhead

Project and construction management cost $4,500 or 23% of the total.

2. Construction Activities (Curb Extensions Only)

Curb extension construction and landscaping cost $12,500 or 62% of the total budget.

• Curb Extension Construction

The core construction activities cost $8,250 or 41% of the total project cost. This included
sawcutting and removing existing asphalt, excavation, concrete curb installation, soil import
and preparation, grading, and safety painting and reflectors on the curbs.

• Landscape Construction
Landscape construction cost $4,250 or 21% of the total project costs. This included check
dam construction, fine grading, plant procurement, plant material, and mulch installation.

3. Ancillary Construction Activities

Miscellaneous street and sidewalk repair work cost $3,000 or 15% of the total.

II. Budget Discussion

It’s likely that design and project management costs will decline for curb extension projects as they
become more routine. The project included one-time costs such as the development of outreach materials
and standard drawings. Ancillary construction tasks – repair to the adjacent pavement as well as the
sidewalk – may have also made this project more expensive than subsequent projects.

The south planter; fall 2004 South curb extension, Spring 2004

NE Siskiyou Green Street Project Report: Completed April 2005

Maintenance and Monitoring

Maintenance
Adjacent property owners have voluntarily modified their
home irrigation systems to help water the curb extensions. In
the long term, the City is responsible for providing any
irrigation required. Given the shady location of the curb
extensions, irrigation after the 2-year startup period should be
minimal.

Portland Parks and Recreation will maintain the curb

extensions for two years after construction, ending October
2005. Maintenance includes hand weeding (non-chemical
applications), trimming plants, plant replacement, and major
leaf and debris removal as needed. Environmental Services
will re-evaluate maintenance requirements in December 2005
and make arrangements for long-term maintenance services.

Monitoring
Environmental Services will monitor hydraulic performance, maintenance requirements, the success of
the planting regime, and comments from neighborhood residents. Environmental Services conducted a
first flow test in summer 2004. See Flow Test Report: Siskiyou Curb Extensions, August 4th, 2004
online at www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=63097.

Successes and Lessons Learned

• The data suggest that the curb extensions on Siskiyou are capturing and infiltrating a large
proportion of the runoff that drains to them.
• The plants grew vigorously during the first year and little weeding was required.
• In the first year the vegetated forebays filled twice with sediment and debris (to a depth of 4-6
inches). City staff removed the sediment by hand with a shovel and rakes. The cleanings typically
required about 30 minutes per forebay.
• The earthen checkdams are susceptible to erosion during large storms, as observed during the hose
test in August 2004. A more substantial structural design should be employed in the future.

NE Siskiyou Green Street Project Report: Completed April 2005