Peterson Street Bioretention Area

We constructed a bioretention area in the grass median between the sidewalk and road on Peterson Street. The project is engineered to capture, absorb, and clean stormwater runoff from nearby streets and buildings. The plants, mulch, soil, gravel, and underground pipes will:

Slow down the water; and,
Filter out water pollution before it reaches Walnut Creek.

This project is near the Walnut Creek Wetland Center and the Walnut Creek Gravel Wetland.

Project Details

Type:: Stormwater
Budget:: $250,000 (design & construction)
Project Lead:: Stormwater Management
Contractors:: Hazen and Sawyer (Design); Lanier Construction Company (Contractor)

We completed this roadway bioretention project in October 2021. This included:

Excavating the land for the bioretention area;
Completing demolition work;
Installing the curb and sidewalk;
Installing the pipe, stone, and media;
Adding soil, mulch, and plants; and,
Installing pavers to help water from eroding the soil near the pipe.

Rendering and Final

Click through the images to see the design rendering and the final look of the bioretention area.

A rendering of the plants, soil, and pipes in the bioretention on Peterson Street. — A rendering of the bioretention area planned for Peterson Street.

Peterson Street Stormwater Bioretention Area — **Peterson Street Linear Bioretention Area**

Background

The 500-square-foot bioretention area will capture stormwater runoff from about 0.3 acres of impervious surface (streets, driveways, and rooftops). The area is expected to prevent excess 2 pounds of nitrogen and 41 pounds of suspended solids from polluting waterways each year.

This is a great example of how planted stormwater devices help the environment. The features remove pollution and reduce impacts to stormwater pipes and streams.

Learn more about green stormwater infrastructure.