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RAIN GARDEN HISTORY: RAIN GARDENS: Stormwater HOW DID RAIN GARDENS STORMWATER SOLUTIONS Best Management Practices GET STARTED? FOR ANY LOCATION Interpretive Trail Mother Nature created our first rain URBAN: gardens. Before humans settled on the Rain gardens Nonpoint Source Pollution land, rain was filtered through soils, can be Reduction Strategy: roots, and plants in our native forests, installed in wetlands, and meadows. The majority of parking islands BIORETENTION AREA instead of the the water that entered our surface traditional RAIN GARDENS waters was cool, clean groundwater. raised grass As we built homes, roads and island which requires infrastructure, the natural water-cleaning mowing. systems were gradually removed. Our streams and rivers became increasingly degraded as water ran off the land instead RESIDENTIAL: of being taken up by plants, soaking into the soil, and filtered by soils and wetlands. Rain gardens, or bioretention areas, Before were first conceived in 1990 by stormwater specialists in the state of Maryland. The goal was to design bioretention to mimic naturally occurring functions that existed in nature After before humans began to alter BUSINESS / SCHOOLS: the earth’s surface features. Berks County Conservation District Financial support for this project is provided by the 1238 County Welfare Road, Suite 200 Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Leesport, PA 19533-9710 though Growing Greener and Environmental Education Funds and the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Phone: 610-372-4657 District’s Mini-Grant. Fax: 610-478-7058 www.berkscd.com ABOUT THIS TRAIL ON THE TRAIL: QUALITIES & BENEFITS RAIN GARDENS OF RAIN GARDENS The Berks Conservation District Stormwater Best Management Rain Gardens are bioretention areas. These Environmental Benefits: Practices Interpretive Trail was areas attempt to reproduce the physical, Installing a rain garden makes you developed to educate visitors about chemical and biological processes of the part of stormwater pollution solution stormwater management; nonpoint natural environment to create a more efficient, by absorbing and filtering rain that source pollution and its impacts; and, on site, water treatment area. The incorpora- would otherwise run off your strategies for reducing water pollution tion of plants, mulch and soil, introduces property and down the storm drain. that can be implemented at home, at natural biological processes and provides two Rain gardens are lovely landscaping work, or in the community. important functions: (i) water quantity (flood) features and create wildlife habitat. controls; and (ii) improved water quality Rain gardens contribute to What is nonpoint source pollution through removal of pollutants and nutrients groundwater recharge. (NPS)? NPS pollution occurs when associated with runoff. Rain Gardens gather precipitation flows over lawns, parking and store runoff rainwater until it can infiltrate Maintenance: lots, farm fields, city streets and forests into the soils, evaporate or be used by plant Rain gardens are low maintenance. picking up pollutants and carrying them uptake. Infiltration is important to restore Rain gardens can save you money. into our streams, rivers and oceans. groundwater recharge and maintain stream They reduce the amount of lawn you base flows. have to maintain. Activities such as littering, oil leaks, lawn Rain Gardens resemble a typical perennial Application: over-fertilization, and improper disposal garden in many ways. The garden bed is A typical grassed lawn can be easily of chemicals contribute to the prepared or sometimes replaced to a depth of retrofitted with a beautifully contamination of our local waters. If left several feet in order to de-compact the soils landscaped Rain Garden. unchecked, these activities eventually and make the garden able to absorb water. Rain gardens can be any size and increase the level of pollution content in Designed with deep-rooted flowers, grasses, placed in a variety of areas where rain our streams & waterways. trees and shrubs, a well designed rain garden is water runoff can enter the garden low maintenance and looks great. What can we each do? Strategies for area, as the site layout determines. managing stormwater and reducing Cross-sections of engineered rain gardens: Take Note: nonpoint source pollution can be Pipe Connected to Roof Drains Domed Riser for Overflow Rain gardens have a ponding area, accomplished in many ways. Some of Plants - ideally native but they are not ponds. There is a those ways are demonstrated on this trail bowl-shaped dip in the garden, which and include Installation of Pervious Soil / Planting Mix holds the rain while it soaks into the Surfaces, Water Quality Units, Rain Sand Bed soil. Gardens or Bioretention Areas, and (opt) Gravel Base (opt) Rain gardens often are planted with Subsurface Infiltration Systems. wetland plants, but they are not Water flowing off impervious surfaces Native plants or hardy cultivars wetlands. (i.e. roofs or driveways) Ponding depth: 6-12” can be delivered to the Mulch layer Many of the plants in the garden are Was this information helpful? Log on rain garden through a Rain Garden soil mix pipe, swale, or Gradual side slopes native to the region, and have to www.berkscd.com to let us know! landscape area. Overflow extensive deep roots that help the garden absorb rain. Existing ground Rain Garden soil mix depth (12-24”) .
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