Overcoming a Challenge with a Challenge: Gwinnett County Walking the Talk

Installing Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) is always challenging – from design to funding to implementation. This presentation will highlight a GSI retrofit project at Gwinnett County’s Department of Water Resources (DWR) Central Campus that was supported by Ferguson Waterworks’ “Green Infrastructure Challenge” initiative. It will unpack the collaborative process among all stakeholders, the unique challenges faced during the implementation and where things are at now, and the long-term co-benefits.

Full Abstract: A green infrastructure master plan completed in 2021, identified opportunities to showcase green infrastructure practices around the Gwinnett County Department of Water Resources (DWR) Central campus. The DWR Central Campus is in the headwaters of the Ocmulgee River Basin. Due to its location, campus ecology influences water quality and habitats throughout the entire system. Runoff from the site discharges to Cedar Creek, a tributary of the Alcovy River. Both Cedar Creek and the Alcovy River are listed as impaired for bacteria. The purpose of the Master Plan was to identify watershed improvement projects to implement at the DWR Central campus to serve as a living laboratory for county employees, residents, the professional design community, students, and the public who visit the facility to pay water/sewer bills. Although GSI opportunities were identified in the master plan, total funding was unknown.

This is the case for so many municipalities, where the future is green, but funding can serve as a roadblock. To make these goals more attainable, Ferguson Waterworks partners each year with a selected municipality to meet their GSI goals through the “Green Infrastructure Challenge” initiative. This year’s challenge took place in the southeast. Gwinnett County was awarded with funding and customized technical support for their Central Campus GSI Retrofit project.

As with most retrofits, there were many unknowns and many changes from the original design happened in the field. Still, the project resulted in four (4) GSI practices implemented across the campus. This includes two (2) space-efficient micro bio-retention systems, an underground storage system, and a sidewalk of precast porous concrete panels. These BMPs are in highly visible and highly utilized areas of the campus where employees, residents, design professionals, students, and the public will be able to interact with and learn more about GSI practices and the importance of effective stormwater management. Bringing Gwinnett County’s total to 12 of 28 approved GSI practices identified in the master plan.