20-30 Club Park

20-30 Club Park header web

201 N. Woodland Vista, Tucson AZ 85711
Neighborhood Park • 1.5 acres • Ward 6

20-30 Club Park is adjacent to Highland Vista Park.

Water Harvesting Project

Project Scope

The 20-30 Club Park Water Harvesting Project was conceived by members of the Highland Vista Neighborhood who noticed that stormwater was ponding in a low point in the road on the east side of the site. Some of that water was then flowing to the west, throughout the site and eventually entering Arcadia Wash. The Neighborhood recognized the opportunity here to reduce the ponding problem in the street and, at the same time, demonstrate a variety of techniques for harvesting storm runoff.

The Neighborhood worked with the Tucson Parks and Recreation Department to get the project constructed in the spring of 2008. Work was finished just in time for that year's summer monsoon rains. The site was planted and seeded exclusively with native and drought tolerant species.

The three water harvesting techniques demonstrated here can be used on a variety of scales and in many other kinds of places. These methods can easily be adapted to residential spaces to harvest the water that falls on walkways, driveways, and roofs. Combined with low water use plants, harvested rainwater can reduce the homeowner's use of water for irrigation and reduce the surge of runoff into our roads and washes that happens with each storm.

"Boomerang" Berms

Soil berms or mounds with a crescent shape (like a boomerang) are a good technique for harvesting water as it flows down a slope. Water is trapped on the uphill side of the mound where plants can be placed to benefit from the increased moisture. Overflow travels around each end of the berm to continue down the slope, perhaps into another boomerang berm or a basin at the slope bottom.

Micro-Catchment Basins

Micro-catchment basins are shallow depressions best located on nearly level ground where they can receive flows from higher areas nearby such as slopes, pathways, or sidewalks. Soil can be slightly bermed up around the basin to retain more water and to direct overflows to the other basins or away from structures.

Infiltration Basins with Check Dams

Check dams are a good tool for slowing water and allowing the water to penetrate into the soil. This is a technique to be used in gently sloped areas such as in the middle of this site. Look closer to see three very low, long bands of rocks (check dams). Areas where ther largest amounts of water are being harvested are where the densest growth of vegetation occurs.

 

Location

201 N. Woodland Vista, Tucson 85711  View Map

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