Planting Diagram

The following plant diagram was developed using the University of Florida's vegetative filter strip modeling program (VFSMOD) to determine the most efficient riparian zone. The red line indicates the proposed location of the contour weep berm. The green polygon indicates the surface area of the vegetative filter strip consisting of only tall fescue grass. The right side of the VFSMOD simulation ran is based on a width equal to the berm and a max length of 31 meters. The left side of the park VFSMOD is based on a similar width and a 30.48 meter buffer length. The area of interest for the left and right side of the park are 0.65 and 0.80 acres respectively, this was determined by using the Web Soil Survey tool.

The vegetative filter strip works in conjunction with a contour weep berm to allow more efficient filtration of runoff, the type of plant used impacts water filtration as well. According to Warner (et. al) the vegetative filter strip’s effectiveness should be measured using the University of Florida’s VFSMOD simulator. The simulation uses data from the soil type, precipitation of the area, the filter strip dimensions and plant features. For this project precipitation data from a storm on April 3, 2015 was used when recorded rainfall reached 5.17 in. This storm was chosen to determine the full effectiveness of the VFS as 5.17 inches is greater than the 5 year 24 hour storm rainfall the weep berm is designed to contain.

The following report describes the results of the University of Florida's vegetative filter strip modeling program (VFSMOD) to determine the most efficient riparian zone.