February 26-27, 2011

Course Description

The rain running off our roofs, roads and yards is the biggest source of pollution entering Puget Sound's water.  We all contribute to this pollution, and we can all help solve this problem by applying Low Impact Development techniques that slow the runoff down and treat the water.  This class will introduce you to Low Impact Development and give you hands-on experience building the kind of rainwater treatment facilities that anyone with a yard can install and use.

Detailed course plan

Sunday February 27

9am - noon: Optional site assessment field trip. We will have a drawing to pick a students house for the installation of a rain garden or other LID design solution. It is understood from the class syllabus that all those participating in the drawing will need to share in the cost and labor of building a rain garden. Participation in this is voluntary and is not part of the basic course syllabus. We will then arrange a field trip to that location for in field practice of site analysis and site planning based on the analysis principles learned.

12 - 1pm: Lunch indoors.

1 - 5pm: Construction.  We will retrofit a class member's house with a rain garden and/or bioswale.  This is a hands-on physical exercise.

Course texts

Low Impact Development, Technical Guidance Manual For Puget Sound - Puget Sound Action team, Washington State University Pierce County Extension - 7.7MB free download

Rain garden Handbook for Western Washington Homeowners - Washington State University Pierce County Extension - 6.5MB free download

Instructor

Paul Byron Crane, A.S.L.A. R.L.A., B.L.A., M.A., is a Licenced Landscape Architect with over 20 years' experience and a passion for Whole Systems Design, community engagement and building infrastructure that is sustainable from the ground up. He specializes in providing comprehensive environmental analysis and design solutions to complex, multi-disciplined teams during the preparation of ecological, terrestrial and cultural restoration plans, project management and mitigation design. 

Paul has led charettes developing designs for Seattle's central waterfront, open space planning through Open Space 2100, and Seattle Center's Century 21 masterplan.  As well as his own work experience, he brings sustainable design ideas from fact-finding trips as far afield as Tokyo, Malmö and Copenhagen.

Accreditation

CM | 6
AICP members can earn Certification Maintenance (CM) credits for this activity. More information about AICP's CM program can be found at www.planning.org/cm.

Venue

Vance Building, room 530
1402 Third Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101

Closest transit station: University Street
Every downtown bus stops within three blocks
The ferry, Amtrak, streetcar and monorail termini are all less than a mile away.

What to bring

Please dress comfortably, and bring paper, something to write with and a sack lunch for each day.  Most of Sunday will be spent outdoors, so please bring rain gear, boots and work gloves if you have them.

We will provide tea, coffee and light snacks.

Registration

• Full price: $150
• Government, nonprofit and tribal employees: $125
• Students and unemployed individuals: $100

Some financial assistance and volunteer exchange opportunities available - please contact us if the price is a barrier to attendance.

Register online at: https://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=j7zbhhcab&oeidk=a07e3at5no556fcd615