Kestrel Blog

We love our work. Our blog is dedicated to discussing our points of view about our work, our profession, and random interesting stuff we find along the way.

Milwaukee Explores Using Basements for Stormwater Management

Posted by on August 13, 2014 in Blog | 0 comments

Milwaukee Explores Using Basements for Stormwater Management

We’d like to pass on this approach that the City of Milwaukee is exploring for management of stormwater. Let us know what you think! http://www.ozy.com/fast-forward/the-new-secret-to-managing-stormwater-may-lie-in-foreclosed-basements/33129.article image credit: http://activerain.trulia.com/image_store/uploads/2/3/6/8/1/ar123495005818632.jpg  

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Minnesota Develops New Option For Property Owners, Municipalities And Others To Save Thousands Of Dollars By Installing Trees For Stormwater Management

Posted by on June 19, 2014 in Blog | 0 comments

Our very own Nathalie Shanstrom and Peter MacDonagh were quoted in today’s article about work on the Minnesota Stormwater Manual. Check out the article here: http://www.wateronline.com/doc/minnesota-property-owners-municipalities-stormwater-management-0001 Minnesota Develops New Option For Property Owners, Municipalities And Others To Save Thousands Of Dollars By Installing Trees For Stormwater Management First-Of-Its-Kind Stormwater Crediting System Allows Communities And Businesses To Quantify Potential Of Trees To Manage Stormwater...

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Project Update: 17th Street Residence Hall

Posted by on June 13, 2014 in Blog | 0 comments

Project Update: 17th Street Residence Hall

I took advantage of this beautiful Friday morning to get out and take photos of one of our more recent landscape installations. The 17th Street Residence Hall at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus, was wrapped up last year, and we’re nearing the end of the warranty period. Luckily, most of the plant material seems to have survived our long, cold, snow-filled winter and came out unscathed. I hope to get back out to the site at various seasons for more photos. It was difficult to get a good picture, but the Kentucky...

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Where in the World is Peter MacDonagh?

Posted by on June 12, 2014 in Blog | 0 comments

Where in the World is Peter MacDonagh?

Those are big shoes I’m trying to fill. It’s very windy in Holland, but these clogs helped keep my feet on the ground, and these clogs are safety rated also! I had a great trip to look at Urban Trees & Greenroofs in Amsterdam, Malmo & Stockholm. I was honored that Joris Voeten biked with me around Amsterdam showing me lots of Amsterdam SBSS (Sand Based Structural Soil) projects. He also took me to this amazing little village of Dutch houses, windmills, barns, etc. collected from Holland. It’s like Disney World, but...

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Stormwater and Silva Cell Webinar

Posted by on June 12, 2014 in Blog | 0 comments

Stormwater and Silva Cell Webinar

Join Kestrel and DeepRoot at their upcoming webinar: Webinar: techniques for directing water into silva cells Tuesday, june 17th 2014, 12:00 – 1:00 PM EDT (9:00 – 10:00 am pdt) Join us for a webinar with L. Peter MacDonagh, FASLA and Marcy Bean of Kestrel Design Group to learn about techniques for directing stormwater into Silva Cells. On-site stormwater management and mimicking pre-development hydrology are becoming increasingly important design imperatives at every level. Trees and soils in suspended pavements are part of the...

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New data: “Sidewalk work blamed for toppling 3,000 Minneapolis trees last summer”

Posted by on May 14, 2014 in Blog | 0 comments

New data: “Sidewalk work blamed for toppling 3,000 Minneapolis trees last summer”

An interesting article was posted today on the Star Tribune website regarding the loss of large existing trees in last years wind storms. I am honestly surprised by the correlation of sidewalk work to the loss of these trees. In my opinion, it emphasizes the importance of planning for ultimate tree growth at the time of planting. Check out the full article here: http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/259157401.html    

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Getting to the Root

Posted by on May 9, 2014 in Blog | 0 comments

There is lots of buzz in the world of Arboriculture and Urban Forestry about the “value” of existing mature trees. Peter was quoted in the Star Tribune this week in an article about this topic. It is an ongoing discussion in our office, and we are always interested in innovative methods to help us save this trees we know are really invaluable. http://www.startribune.com/business/258530731.html   Getting to the root of saving mature trees Article by: DON JACOBSON , Special to the Star Tribune Updated: May 8, 2014 – 4:53...

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Trees Tame Stormwater

Posted by on May 5, 2014 in Blog | 0 comments

Trees Tame Stormwater

An interesting interactive graphic has been put together by the Arbor Day Foundation, one that we might have to print and put up at our office. Check out how trees can “tame” stormwater. http://www.arborday.org/trees/stormwater.cfm Rain refreshes the land and nourishes the green landscape. But as houses, stores, schools, roads and parking lots spread and natural tree cover is lost, so is the absorbing effect of vegetation and soil. The welcome rain becomes costly stormwater runoff. Without the benefit of trees and vegetated...

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Spring Fever

Posted by on April 29, 2014 in Blog | 0 comments

Spring Fever

The spring is teasing us here in Minnesota. A few days of sun and warmth followed by a full week of near-freezing rains. One sunny spot of my weekend included finding hints of plants coming back to life. One of my favorite natives, the Pasque Flower gives me hope that spring will be here for good soon.

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Evapotranspiration Credit for Trees

Posted by on April 16, 2014 in Interesting Work, Stormwater, Trees | 0 comments

Evapotranspiration Credit for Trees

Our resident research guru, Nathalie, was interviewed by Leda Marritz, providing a nice summary about our work for MPCA regarding Evapotranspiration credits for stormwater management. For the full summary, check out the post at: http://www.deeproot.com/blog/blog-entries/minnesotas-evapotranspiration-credit-system-for-trees.  

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