|
Daylighting in downtown: final studies needed day light vt In the restoration field, a verb that denotes the excavation and restoration of a stream channel from an underground culvert, covering, or pipe.
In dense urban areas, underground culverted creeks share space with a number of utilities, including electric, gas, sewer and storm drains, and telephone, water and cable television lines. Other factors to study when daylighting is being considered include hydrology and hydraulics, and land use and urban economics. In other words, determining where and how to bring a creek back to the surface is complex and requires detailed planning and sophisticated engineering. It is important to acknowledge that a daylighted urban stream in a downtown core area could never attempt to capture all the ecological benefits of a more open environment. However, the social, educational and economic benefits of such a project would add considerably to any ecological processes that could be restored. 1999 City of Berkeley Strawberry Creek Downtown Study The City of Berkeley’s interest in and commitment to urban creek daylighting goes back many years, and some data has already been collected in preparation. In June of 1999, the City published “Strawberry Creek Downtown” A Data Collection Study to Daylight Strawberry Creek, in consultation with Wolfe Mason Associates, Elmwood Consulting, Michal Moore, Woody Trihey, Urban Advantage and Waterways Restoration Institute. Five downtown daylighting scenarios were studied, and a wealth of data on the location of various public utilities was documented. The study didn’t focus on any one location specifically, but gave the community a better overall picture about the possibilities of downtown daylighting. In follow-up public meetings, the Center Street scenario was selected as the most preferred location for further study. Remaining studies neededToday, Citizens for a Strawberry Creek Plaza, in consultation with urban stream restoration experts and the City of Berkeley, have assessed the remaining studies necessary for determining the final feasibility of daylighting Strawberry Creek on Center Street. Final studies needed include channel design, plaza design, EIR, hydraulics analysis, creek channel vegetation, transportation/traffic mitigation plan, permitting, and a maintenance and safety plan. The Strawberry Creek Plaza plans will need to be incorporated into the larger Downtown Area Plan the City of Berkeley and the University of California are developing. The plaza/creek design should be integrated into the overall master plan for the downtown core. If the creek design can become harmonious with the overall project design, there exists tremendous potential for a world-class “green” downtown development that could launch a new “City Beautiful” movement for the 21st Century. For more detailed information on the final plans needed and preliminary studies already completed, you can request a copy of the grant submitted to the Department of Water Resources by Citizens for a Strawberry Creek Plaza, for $20 plus shipping. Contact Kirstin Miller at 510-419-0850 or Kirstin@ecocitybuilders.org |
