Browsing by Author "Cruz, Chanelle"

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    Development and Regionalization of In Situ Bioslopes and Bioswales
    (Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2019-07) Johnson, Kurt W.; Cai, Meijun; Patelke, Marsha; Saftner, David; Cruz, Chanelle
    This project is a multi-disciplinary investigation into the use of alternative media for biofiltration systems in Minnesota. Over the last thirty years, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has implemented biofilters along roadways as a stormwater control measure. These systems must be able to infiltrate and treat the first inch of rainfall onsite to meet state and national regulations. The performance of a biofilter is largely based on its media?s ability to infiltrate water, sustain vegetation, and capture pollutants. To date, MnDOT has relied on sand and compost mixtures for biofilter media components. An early phase of this work identified peat as having similar performance characteristics as compost, making it an ideal alternative. A laboratory testing program was also developed during the early phase of work to determine media properties that could be used to predict biofilter performance. This project focused on characterizing existing biofilters using in situ testing and comparing results to laboratory testing. The comparison of the two methods demonstrated the predictive capabilities of the laboratory regime. This project also included the instrumentation and monitoring of field sites including a newly constructed peat amended biofilter. Findings from this work determined the validity of using peat for future biofilters and can aid in identifying and characterizing other alternative media.
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    Performance Testing of Alternative Media for Use in Stormwater Biofilters
    (2019-05) Cruz, Chanelle
    This work included the in situ testing, laboratory characterization, and performance monitoring of biofilters amended with standard and alternative medias. Testing identified pertinent physical and water transport qualities of media that was compared between the methods to evaluate the predictive capacity of laboratory testing. Performance monitoring included a pilot test plot comparing compost and peat amended biofilters and a newly constructed peat biofilter. Field and laboratory testing revealed a range of performance in existing biofilters but did not indicate over or under performance of biofilters amended with alternative medias. The results of the two methods showed promise for the use of laboratory methods in predicting field performance. The monitoring at the pilot plot showed comparable infiltration capabilities between peat and compost. Both biofilters showed the ability to capture first flush rainfall events. The pilot plots showed clear impacts on infiltration efficiency based on initial soil moisture content and the duration of storm events. The newly constructed biofilter experienced similar impacts but also showed promise in meeting stormwater infiltration requirements.