The City of Woodbury undertook an effort to thoughtfully plan its undeveloped outskirts to preserve key ecological resources—including woodlands, heritage trees, swales, and wetlands—while establishing stormwater management systems before residential construction begins. One of the city’s goals is to identify high-quality natural resources so they can be permanently protected through purchase or conservation easements.
To achieve this, Woodbury engaged Barr to assess and prioritize natural resources for protection and to design regional stormwater management systems that can be implemented ahead of development. Barr conducted hydrologic modeling to determine the appropriate sizing for both local and regional stormwater treatment systems. We also planned for strategic placement of ponds and bioretention facilities to minimize mass grading and integrate with natural areas, resulting in larger, contiguous open spaces.
A key feature of the plan is a 100-foot-wide greenway that links open spaces, facilitating wildlife movement and providing trail corridors. These greenways will serve as primary routes for pedestrians and cyclists as well as habitat corridors. Ultimately, the project will create a connected network of stormwater treatment open spaces and natural resources that support people, wildlife, and efficient, low-maintenance stormwater treatment.
