carbon sequestration closed loop irrigation...
TRANSCRIPT
MONTEZUMA HILLS
CARBON POSITIVE SITE RESTORATION
The objective of the Montezuma Hills Restoration Project is to create a 1000-acre self-sustaining closed loop inter-farm cycle. The current site will be restored through the development of a 100-year master plan involving a multi-phase carbon sequestration process, a closed-loop gravity piping system with a single pump configuration capable of supporting aggregated farming zones, an agricultural crop output and timber production schedule, and lastly the development of non-permanent carbon negative structures on site.
Winter Design Review 2020 | MD1 Design Team
Carbon Sequestration + Water Retention
10,000 years of cultivated agriculture has reduced global soil carbon by 116 Gt: equivalent to more than a decade of the present rates of industrial emissions! An increase in soil carbon will correspond with increased water retention and agricultural output.
Paolo Hernandez - Saleem Toon - Ibrahim Fakih - Briana Estrada - Eduardo Gamez Jr
The water table in the Central Valley has decreased by over 20 feet in some regions due to groundwater overdraft. A closed-loop irrigation system relying solely on precipitation will prevent the continued depletion of California’s groundwater aquifers.
The development of agroforestry sites will provide the restoration site the ability to generate timber-based construction material. The construction material generated on-site will be used for temporary carbon-negative structures for monitoring, storage, housing, and water retention purposes.
An estimated annual cost of $17 billion is required for surface water diversion and groundwater pumping in the Central Valley. Habitable keyline design farms placed in clusters across the site will provide adequate crop output without exhausting valuable soil nutrients.
Retention Pond Design
Gravity Piping Network
Nomadic CLT Module Stations
Q (Design Discharge)
Required Surface Area of Basin
715.8 GPM 31,896.5 sq ft (two-foot depth)
Closed Loop Irrigation System
Regenerative Agriculture
Carbon NegativeStructures
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● Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) - Solid-sawn lumber stacked in perpendicular layers
● Connection Alternative - Joinery Connections: created by cutting notched, holes, tongues for connection members used for interlocking
● In case of tension force transfer, the use of steel straps, nailing, and hold-downs should be utilized instead to adequately strengthen connection
TEA
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● Runoff is captured in a reservoir located near the base of the watershed as well as in retention ponds located at ridges.
● A single centrifugal pump delivers water from the reservoir into the ponds.
● Piping moves water throughout the site with the aid of gravity while irrigating the crops adjacent to piping system.
Future Developments
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● Design of CLT Structures for Temporary Housing & Robotic Facilities● Design of Water Retention Dam Structure● Determination of Agricultural Crop Selection● Biochar Production & Implementation
Keyline Design
The module stations will serve a variety of the site’s needs. Over the first 30 years, the stations will be equipped with monitoring devices for weather, soil conditions, and crop growth. These structures can also be used as storage units for equipment or as temporary shelters. Lastly, with future advancement of AI technology, the module stations can be retrofitted to support robotics and machinery that will assist in day-to-day farm work.
References[1]. Collins and D. J. Doherty, “‘Soil, Water & Carbon for Every Farm’ Building Soils, Harvesting Rainwater, Storing Carbon,” Permaculture News, 16-Mar-2009. .[2]. “Hydrology Manual,” Solano County Water Agency : Hydrology Manual, Jun-1999. [Online]. Available: http://www.scwa2.com/publications/hydrology-manual.
● Strategy for development that emphasizes utilizing the natural topography, climate, and flow of water to maximize water harvesting and storage, and leads to the formation of new topsoil
● Crops are grown parallel to the keyline (topography line running along the base of a hill) ● Downhill runoff will be intercepted by crop placement to increase soil infiltration.
● Estimated water volume of 109 million cubic feet on 1000-acre site ● Rational Method was used to calculate the volume needed to collect this amount of rainfall. ● 50% of expected precipitation considered as runoff due to high concentration of clayey soils● Runoff to be captured in retention ponds around the site.
Figure B. Gravity Pipe Network, Single Pump Configuration
Figure C. Module Station
Single Pump Configuration
BEP Head: 590 ftBEP Flow: 3,350 GPM
Pipe Specifications
12” Diameter PVC PipingTotal Pipe Length: 36,775 ft
Retention Ponds
Capacity: 2 ac ft. (87,120 cu. ft)
Figure A. Retention Pond Cross Section
Acknowledgements: James Bucknam, Brett Kauffman, Estefany Gonzalez, Mason McCarthy, Russell Detwiler, Joel Lanning
Contact Information: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]