UPPER RAIN GARDEN
Donated by Heather Thomas and Chet Kerr
OBJECTIVE: Water conservation and the preservation of the natural water cycle, watershed management and water quality improvement, flood and erosion control, creation of a new ecosystem with beauty and wildlife habitat
CURRICULUM CONTENT: The water cycle, watersheds, storm water management practices, water conservation, horticulture, ecosystems
THE SUBURBAN LANDSCAPE: Storm water harvesting, flood control, Erosion Reduction
THE UPPER RAIN GARDEN:
Storm water runoff from the front lawn and part of the parking lot flows into the upper rain garden. The garden is built on a slope, so the ponding area is deepest near the parking lot. Since the water from the driveway contain silt and mud, rocks are used to dissipate the energy of the runoff so that the silt adn mud can settle out before entering the main rain garden. Water is pooled at a depth of approximately 8-12? to sustain plant growth. The overflow from this garden is carried through an underground conduit into a catch basin in the driveway in the front of the basement door.
For more information regarding the Upper Rain Garden click here