Balancing Airport Stormwater and Bird Hazard Management (2015)

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A I R P O R T C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M ACRP REPORT 125 TRANSPORTAT ION RESEARCH BOARD WASHINGTON, D.C. 2015 www.TRB.org Research sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration Subject Categories Aviation  •  Environment Balancing Airport Stormwater and Bird Hazard Management Kim Allerton Amy Johnson EnvironmEntal rEsourcE solutions, inc. Jacksonville, FL John Lengel Melanie Knecht Devon Seal GrEsham, smith and PartnErs Columbus, OH Paul Esposito star consultants, inc. Annapolis, MD Ginga Griffin Esis, inc., hEalth safEty & EnvironmEntal Atlanta, GA

AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM Airports are vital national resources. They serve a key role in trans­ portation of people and goods and in regional, national, and inter­ national commerce. They are where the nation’s aviation system connects with other modes of transportation and where federal respon­ sibility for managing and regulating air traffic operations intersects with the role of state and local governments that own and operate most airports. Research is necessary to solve common operating problems, to adapt appropriate new technologies from other industries, and to introduce innovations into the airport industry. The Airport Coopera­ tive Research Program (ACRP) serves as one of the principal means by which the airport industry can develop innovative near­term solutions to meet demands placed on it. The need for ACRP was identified in TRB Special Report 272: Airport Research Needs: Cooperative Solutions in 2003, based on a study spon­ sored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The ACRP carries out applied research on problems that are shared by airport operating agencies and are not being adequately addressed by existing federal research programs. It is modeled after the successful National Coopera­ tive Highway Research Program and Transit Cooperative Research Pro­ gram. The ACRP undertakes research and other technical activities in a variety of airport subject areas, including design, construction, mainte­ nance, operations, safety, security, policy, planning, human resources, and administration. The ACRP provides a forum where airport opera­ tors can cooperatively address common operational problems. The ACRP was authorized in December 2003 as part of the Vision 100­Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act. The primary participants in the ACRP are (1) an independent governing board, the ACRP Oversight Committee (AOC), appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation with representation from airport operating agencies, other stakeholders, and relevant industry organizations such as the Airports Council International­North America (ACI­NA), the American Associa­ tion of Airport Executives (AAAE), the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), Airlines for America (A4A), and the Airport Consultants Council (ACC) as vital links to the airport community; (2) the TRB as program manager and secretariat for the governing board; and (3) the FAA as program sponsor. In October 2005, the FAA executed a contract with the National Academies formally initiating the program. The ACRP benefits from the cooperation and participation of airport professionals, air carriers, shippers, state and local government officials, equipment and service suppliers, other airport users, and research orga­ nizations. Each of these participants has different interests and respon­ sibilities, and each is an integral part of this cooperative research effort. Research problem statements for the ACRP are solicited periodically but may be submitted to the TRB by anyone at any time. It is the responsibility of the AOC to formulate the research program by iden­ tifying the highest priority projects and defining funding levels and expected products. Once selected, each ACRP project is assigned to an expert panel, appointed by the TRB. Panels include experienced practitioners and research specialists; heavy emphasis is placed on including airport pro­ fessionals, the intended users of the research products. The panels pre­ pare project statements (requests for proposals), select contractors, and provide technical guidance and counsel throughout the life of the project. The process for developing research problem statements and selecting research agencies has been used by TRB in managing cooper­ ative research programs since 1962. As in other TRB activities, ACRP project panels serve voluntarily without compensation. Primary emphasis is placed on disseminating ACRP results to the intended end­users of the research: airport operating agencies, service providers, and suppliers. The ACRP produces a series of research reports for use by airport operators, local agencies, the FAA, and other interested parties, and industry associations may arrange for work­ shops, training aids, field visits, and other activities to ensure that results are implemented by airport­industry practitioners. ACRP REPORT 125 Project 09­08 ISSN 1935­9802 ISBN 978­0­309­30830­4 Library of Congress Control Number 2014958563 © 2015 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein. Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not­for­profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB or FAA endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not­for­profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP. NOTICE The project that is the subject of this report was a part of the Airport Cooperative Research Program, conducted by the Transportation Research Board with the approval of the Governing Board of the National Research Council. The members of the technical panel selected to monitor this project and to review this report were chosen for their special competencies and with regard for appropriate balance. The report was reviewed by the technical panel and accepted for publication according to procedures established and overseen by the Transportation Research Board and approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council. The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board, the National Research Council, or the program sponsors. The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, the National Research Council, and the sponsors of the Airport Cooperative Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report. Cover photo by Amy Johnson, Environmental Resource Solutions, Inc. Published reports of the AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM are available from: Transportation Research Board Business Office 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 and can be ordered through the Internet at http://www.national­academies.org/trb/bookstore Printed in the United States of America

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. C. D. Mote, Jr., is president of the National Academy of Engineering. The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president of the Institute of Medicine. The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. C. D. Mote, Jr., are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council. The Transportation Research Board is one of six major divisions of the National Research Council. The mission of the Transporta- tion Research Board is to provide leadership in transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange, conducted within a setting that is objective, interdisciplinary, and multimodal. The Board’s varied activities annually engage about 7,000 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individu- als interested in the development of transportation. www.TRB.org www.national-academies.org

C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M S AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The research reported herein was performed under ACRP Project 09­08 by Environmental Resource Solutions, Inc. (ERS) in association with Gresham, Smith and Partners (GS&P), ESIS, and STAR Consul­ tants, Inc. (STAR). Kim Allerton, president and senior environmental scientist for ERS, was the project director and principal investigator. Contributing authors for this report include the following: Amy Johnson, AWB, qualified airport wildlife biologist with ERS; John A. Lengel, Jr., P.E., executive vice president and senior environmental engineer with GS&P; Devon E. Seal, P.E., MBA, environmental engineer with GS&P; Melanie Knecht, P.E., environmental engineer with GS&P; Paul Esposito, CIH, CSP, president of STAR and former vice president of ESIS; Joe McGinnis with ESIS, and Virginia (Ginga) Griffin, CPCU, ALCM, account manager with ESIS. CRP STAFF FOR ACRP REPORT 125 Christopher W. Jenks, Director, Cooperative Research Programs Michael R. Salamone, ACRP Manager Joseph D. Navarrete, Senior Program Officer Terri Baker, Senior Program Assistant Eileen P. Delaney, Director of Publications Margaret B. Hagood, Editor ACRP PROJECT 09-08 PANEL Field of Maintenance Kevin A. Gurchak, Allegheny County (PA) Airport Authority—Pittsburgh International Airport, Pittsburgh, PA (Chair) Nick A. Atwell, Port of Portland (OR), Portland, OR Bradley F. Blackwell, USDA/APHIS/WS National Wildlife Research Center, Sandusky, OH James T. Driscoll, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix, AZ Peggy Nguyen, Los Angeles World Airports, Los Angeles, CA Debora A. Roth, Ohio EPA—Division of Surface Water, Dayton, OH John M. Robinson, FAA Liaison Katherine B. Preston, Airports Council International—North America Liaison Christine Gerencher, TRB Liaison

F O R E W O R D ACRP Report 125: Balancing Airport Stormwater and Bird Hazard Management and the accompanying CRP­CD 159, Bird Strike Risk Analysis and Stormwater Management Decision Tool provide valuable guidance to help airports identify and evaluate stormwater manage­ ment and bird mitigation practices. The tool uses the FAA’s familiar safety management system (SMS) approach to assess potential risks to minimize hazards posed to aviation by birds attracted to bodies of water as well as to evaluate alternative stormwater management options. The report and tool can be used to foster interaction between airport industry practitioners and environmental regulators and help them reach implementable solutions that meet their respective objectives and missions. Airports are required to manage the quantity and quality of stormwater on site while ensuring the safety of aircraft operations; however, many stormwater management options can create potential aviation bird hazards. In addition, airports are faced with potentially conflicting federal, state, and local stormwater and wildlife management regulations and guidance. Research was therefore needed to develop proactive tools and guidance to assist airports in making decisions that balance stormwater management and bird hazard management. The research, led by Environmental Resource Solutions, Inc., began with a review of appli­ cable regulations, guidance documents, and relevant research. Next, the research team identi­ fied airport stormwater management options and assessed the potential effect these options could have on wildlife (specifically, waterfowl) behavior. Using this analysis, a matrix was developed that considered the likelihood and severity of a bird strike given various storm­ water design characteristics. A draft tool was then developed using a SMS framework. Two airport case studies were conducted to obtain input from initial users and to see how the tool performed at airports of different sizes and activity levels and with differing amounts of avail­ able data. The research team used the results of research and the case studies to prepare the final tool and to prepare the report. The report documents the research objectives, details the research approach, presents the findings and conclusions, and suggests areas of future research. The report also features appendices, including a summary of the case studies and references. The decision tool provides a five­step process for identifying improved airport storm­ water management practices. In the first step, users enter the bird species most relevant to their airport, strike history, and other observational data. Users then input existing bird mitigation measures and the design elements of existing or planned stormwater facilities and practices. Based on these inputs, the tool identifies the potential risk based on current conditions. In subsequent steps, the tool enables users to identify alternative mitigation By Joseph D. Navarrete Staff Officer Transportation Research Board

strategies and/or stormwater designs to see their potential benefit in terms of reducing bird strike risk. The tool also features valuable resources, including a list of hazardous water­ dependent bird species, bird mitigation definitions, USDA­recommended landscaping veg­ etation for use at airports, definitions, and the references and assumptions used to develop the tool. Lastly, the CD­ROM includes a summary sheet describing the research and tool that is suitable for outreach material.

C O N T E N T S 1  Summary 3 Chapter 1 Background 3 Problem Statement 3 Objective 3 Project Scope 4 Chapter 2  Findings and Applications 4 Research Findings 11 Application 12 Chapter 3  Conclusions and Suggested Research 12 Conclusions 15 Suggested Research 17  References 18 Appendix A   Research Approach and Data Library 25 Appendix B   Regulatory Matrix 30 Appendix C   BMP Design Considerations to Minimize  Wildlife Risk 32 Appendix D   Risk Factors of BMP Characteristics 35 Appendix E   Local and State Stormwater Criteria  Summary Matrix 38 Appendix F   Risk Matrix 40 Appendix G   Table of Water-Dependent Species 42 Appendix H   Case Studies Summary Note: Many of the photographs, figures, and tables in this report have been converted from color to grayscale for printing. The electronic version of the report (posted on the Web at www.trb.org) retains the color versions.