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Monitoring and Assessment of Urban Stormwater Best Management Practices at Selected Chicago Public Schools in Chicago, Illinois, from September 1, 2016, to July 1, 2017

Scientific Investigations Report 2024-5036
Prepared in cooperation with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Chicago Public Schools, Healthy Schools Campaign, and Openlands
By: , , and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20245036

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Abstract

The Space to Grow program helps transform aging and neglected schoolyards of Chicago Public Schools into outdoor community spaces with the goal of promoting health and learning while addressing neighborhood flooding issues. Virgil I. Grissom Elementary School and Donald L. Morrill Math and Science School were selected in 2014 for schoolyard upgrades and the installation of various green infrastructure (GI) improvements. The U.S. Geological Survey installed sensors to measure precipitation, groundwater levels, and stormwater runoff volumes from September 1, 2016, to July 1, 2017.

At Virgil I. Grissom Elementary School, about 933,000 gallons of water fell on the schoolyard during the monitoring period. No discharge was recorded coming from the GI sewer lines, but backflow indicated water was flowing from the sewer line draining the impervious running track into the combined manhole structure and backwards into the GI retention basins (as designed). This design allowed for a 100-percent capture rate. Native soil at Virgil I. Grissom Elementary School also was conducive to rapid infiltration. Soil borings at Virgil I. Grissom Elementary School indicated about 10.5 feet (ft) of fine sand overlying silty clay to a depth of at least 16 ft. At Donald L. Morrill Math and Science School, about 1,120,000 gallons of water fell on the schoolyard during the monitoring period. About 72.5 precent of this water was discharged into the sewer system, and the other 27.5 percent was captured by the GI. Unlike Virgil I. Grissom Elementary School, the soil profile at Donald L. Morrill Math and Science School consisted of about 5 ft of clay loam overlying stiff blue clay to a depth of at least 12 ft. The sewer line coming from the GI under the football field was at the bottom of the reservoir. This design seemed to allow water to flow out of the line before being absorbed by the retention basin.

Suggested Citation

Bailey, C.R., Soderstrom, C.M., and Duncker, J.J., 2024, Monitoring and assessment of urban stormwater best management practices at selected Chicago public schools in Chicago, Illinois, from September 1, 2016, to July 1, 2017: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2024–5036, 40 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20245036.

ISSN: 2328-0328 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Methods
  • Monitoring and Assessment Results and Discussion
  • Summary
  • References Cited
  • Appendix 1. Selected Boring Logs Obtained from the Illinois State Geological Survey
  • Appendix 2. Piezometer Construction Logs
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Monitoring and assessment of urban stormwater best management practices at selected Chicago public schools in Chicago, Illinois, from September 1, 2016, to July 1, 2017
Series title Scientific Investigations Report
Series number 2024-5036
DOI 10.3133/sir20245036
Year Published 2024
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Central Midwest Water Science Center
Description Report: viii, 40 p.; Dataset
Country United States
State Illinois
County Cook County
City Chicago
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details