Regenerative stormwater conveyance system and method

Abstract

A regenerative stormwater conveyance (RSC) system for treating and dispersing stormwater runoff is disclosed which includes an upstream entry point where water enters the system and an entry pool downstream from the entry point that collects water from the entry point. The RSC system includes one or more shallow aquatic beds that receive water from the entry pool in a serial manner and each of which includes a filtration structure for filtering water from the aquatic bed. Riffle weir grade control structures are positioned between the aquatic beds and transition water overflowing from each upstream aquatic bed to a downstream aquatic bed. Accordingly, collected stormwater runoff traverses the series of aquatic beds and riffle weir grading structures and is treated and safely detained, thus, conveying stormwater to groundwater through infiltration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A regenerative stormwater conveyance system comprising:
 an entry point from which water enters the system;   an entry pool operable to collect water entering from the entry point, said entry pool being located at an upstream point in said system;   a first aquatic bed having a filtration structure operable to filter water;   a first riffle weir grade control structure operable to transition overflow water from said entry pool to said first aquatic bed, wherein said first aquatic bed is lower than said entry pool;   a sand base disposed beneath at least the filtration structure and operable to carry filtered water from the filtration structure downstream; and   an impervious structure positioned within the sand base and directing water through at least a portion of said sand base.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a vertical structure disposed within said first aquatic bed and at least partially embedded within said sand base. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the vertical structure includes an inverted root wad including a root ban and trunk of a tree. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the vertical structure is positioned in the center of the aquatic bed. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the vertical structure is positioned at a downflow side of said aquatic bed. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the vertical structure is oriented at an angle. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the vertical structure is at least partially impervious. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the vertical structure is approximately 24 inches in width. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the vertical structure is at least 5 feet in length. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the impervious structure is a clay aquaclude. 
     
     
         26 . A regenerative stormwater conveyance system comprising:
 a plurality of aquatic beds each including a filtration structure operable to filter water from the respective aquatic bed, wherein said filtration structure includes one or more of sand and wood chips;   at least one riffle weir grade control structure disposed respectively between each of said plurality of aquatic beds and operable to transfer water overflowing from an upstream aquatic bed to a downstream aquatic bed, wherein the downstream aquatic bed is at a lower grade than the upstream aquatic bed.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , further comprising an impervious structure disposed within a base of at least one of said aquatic beds. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said impervious structure directs water through porous material. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said impervious structure is made of clay. 
     
     
         30 . A method of designing a regenerative stormwater conveyance (RSC) system, the method comprising:
 determining the volume of water for storage;   mapping out the reach where the RSC will be placed in the landscape;   determining the length of the reach from an input point to a discharge point;   determining the elevation difference of the reach as the difference between the top of the reach and the bottom of the reach;   setting a number of riffle weir grade control structures to be constructed in the system to the elevation difference of the reach; and   determining the appropriate size and depth of cobbles.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising, setting the length of the riffle weir grade control structure(s) to be half the ratio of the length of the reach to the elevation difference of the reach and determining the width and depth of the riffle weir grade control structure(s). 
     
     
         32 . The method of constructing a regenerative stormwater conveyance system, the method comprising:
 determining an entry point from which water enters the system;   forming an entry pool operable to collect water entering from the entry point;   forming a first aquatic bed lower in elevation than said entry point and including a filtration structure operable to filter water; and   forming a first riffle weir grade control structure between said entry point and said first aquatic bed, wherein the filtration structure includes one or more of sand and wood.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising forming an impervious structure within the first aquatic bed, wherein the impervious structure directs water through porous material.