Nature Ignores Design That Ignores Nature

Webinar Description:
This presentation reviews various site planning and design techniques, approaches, principles, successes, pitfalls and roadblocks to designing, preserving and establishing the native landscape and how those landscapes can integrate with designed environments. Based on the presenter’s philosophy that Nature Ignores Design That Ignores Nature, the historical natural patterns of hydrology and landscape will be reviewed and compared to impacted, manmade, designed and manipulated patterns of hydrology and landscape.
The content will show how we can learn from history by taking our cues from nature when thinking about water differently when we rethink the serious term known as "stormwater management” into a more accepting phrase such as "rainfall integration" and green infrastructure through the use of logical efficiencies and proven design methods.
Design techniques and real world projects will be shared in relation to using native landscape in site specific ways that even the general public can understand and appreciate. The presenter will discuss how this can be successfully achieved, but also how quickly these projects can turn into bad science projects if the commitment to their success isn't embraced by all project stakeholders.
Attendees will be able to better understand the relationship between the landscape architect, civil engineer, community members, municipality, architect and the client as it pertains to expectations, aesthetic tolerances, design methods, restrictive and prescriptive ordinances and design standards when applied to using green infrastructure to integrate rainfall onto a designed site through collaborative site planning methods.

Learning Objectives:
When and why a native landscape approach is the right choice. How to plan for a naturalized green infrastructure project. Some techniques to reduce and slow runoff preserving natural areas, reducing land disturbance, slowing down runoff and minimizing impervious surfaces, where practical. The use of buffers, filter strips and/or level spreaders and how to enhance their performance. Proper design and installation techniques using native and naturalized landscape and green infrastructure. Incorporating native and naturalized plants into the stormwater design for ecological benefit and potential cost savings.