For the University of Virginia, Cahill Associates developed a Strategic Plan for Water Resources Management. University evolved over time from Jefferson's Academical Village to the current complex of institutions over hundreds of acres. The streams and their valleys have become disconnected, and the urbanization of the system has contributed to the stormwater and water quality problems of the Rivanna River, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay. The intent of the Strategic Plan is to restore the natural water system as a connecting element in the Campus environment.
This effort began by changing stormwater management practices, and so a critical element of the Plan and subsequent efforts is to design better stormwater management practices for the UVA grounds. Stormwater is recognized as a resource to be conserved and reused, rather than a problem to be moved offsite. To sustain water resources at the University, a combination of land use strategies, restoration of the natural drainage system, and better management practices are recommended, all serving to reconnect the natural, historical, and cultural elements of the Campus.
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