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Rain Garden

Rain Garden. Environmental Bio Class. Problem- Runoff. Water that runs off land during precipitation and snowmelt Runs off land instead of soaking into the ground Collects pollution from cars, pesticides, fertilizers, and many other sources

jessamine-french
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Rain Garden

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  1. Rain Garden Environmental Bio Class

  2. Problem- Runoff • Water that runs off land during precipitation and snowmelt • Runs off land instead of soaking into the ground • Collects pollution from cars, pesticides, fertilizers, and many other sources • Collect in local water sources and storm drains, contaminating them

  3. Point Source Pollution Point source of pollution is a single identifiable localized source of air, water, thermal, noise or light pollution. A point source has negligible extent, distinguishing it from other pollution source geometries

  4. Nonpoint Source Pollution Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is water pollution affecting a water body from diffuse sources, such as polluted runoff from agricultural areas draining into a river, or wind-borne debris blowing out to sea. Nonpoint source pollution can be contrasted with point source pollution, where discharges occur to a body of water at a single location, such as discharges from a chemical factory, urban runoff from a roadway storm drain, or from ships at sea

  5. Effect of the Problem • If stormwater runs over streets and gets into sources of water it can: • Sedimentation smothers aquatic life and inhibits drinking water purification systems • Nitrogen causes buildup of ammonia that kills fish • Phosphorus fertilizers cause algae growth which suck up oxygen • Bacterial peaks is harmful for human health • Also, with water running into streets and open waters, no water is retained underground • Essential for people that use wells as water source • Dug deeper if less water

  6. What is it? • Gardens that are designed to soak up rainwater and save millions of gallons • Drains off of roads, roofs, driveways, lawns, etc. • Looks like regular gardens that contain flowers and other forms of vegetation • Performs phytoremediation • Ability of plants to utilize many of the pollutants and the ground naturally filters out the rest

  7. How it works • When it rains, garden fills with water • Filters into the ground instead of running off to storm drains or nearby streams • Rain garden soaks up to 30% more water • Adds beauty to habitat

  8. Planning • Pick a location • Relatively flat or has a slight slope • Must have good drainage so water can soak within 24hrs after rainfall • Should be at least 10ft away from any buildings • Good amount of sunlight • Avoid areas over a septic system

  9. Planning • Size • Size of area draining into it • Types of soils on the site • Sand, silt, or clay • Clay is hard to work with since it doesn’t allow water to flow • Depth of garden • Typically 100-300 square feet • 3-8 inches deep • Ours is 5 inches • Slope • <4% so preferable was 3-5 inches deep

  10. Planning • Percolation tests • Soil tests • Develop shape of garden • Allocate space for certain plants • Make plant and flower choices • Calculate costs for rain garden • Was about $1000 estimated, but greatly reduced thanks to donations and aid from our neighbors • Split into committees that are education, fundraising, and construction • Calendar of goals and tasks to be achieved at certain dates • Mid March to Early May

  11. Example Calendar (Construction)

  12. Plants • Should be variety of heights, textures, and bloom times • Tolerable in both wet and dry conditions • Suited to garden’s sun/shade exposure • Indigenous to state

  13. Education Group • Objective: To inform and educate people of all ages of what a rain garden is, stress the importance of clean water, and to spread the word of reducing water pollution • We have completed an informative brochure • Manage the wiki • www.envirobiotech-raingarden.pbwiki.com • Currently working on a poster • Informative and grabs attention • Presentation to classes/groups • To interest them in the rain garden • The future of the garden relies on you when picking electives

  14. Education Group • Our wiki • Keeps us updated • As well as a way to post our progress • Keep people in touch and know what each group is doing at the moment • Serves as a way to spread information about the rain garden • Also a tool used to communicate to other schools that have a rain garden and a wiki • Communicated with bioengineering class for ideas of design of the garden

  15. Fundraising Group • Objective: Raise necessary funds to build a garden by public appeal to organizations or private requests for contributions • Sent letters to 10 donor organizations • Received supply of plants from Native Plants Society of NJ • Helped pick plants for the garden • Received monetary help for the construction of the rain garden • Assisted in construction of the rain garden

  16. Communication with Outside Groups • We promoted our rain garden via the morning announcements • Stayed in contact with the organizations • Communicate with teachers for donations such as soil, shovels, etc. • Presented to the BTHS PSFA • Offered a grant for our project

  17. Construction Group • Objective: research, lab testing, design and the execution of said design for the construction of the BTHS rain garden. We are responsible for determining materials needed and collaborate with other groups, the BioEngineering Class of BTHS, the career center, and the Rutger's Agricultural Center

  18. Construction Group • Picked three potential locations • Ran the percolation test to determine which site was ideal • Percolation Test- process in which an 8 inch hole was dug and filled with water to saturate soil; if water is gone after an hour, it indicates soil is loosely packed and is suitable for the rain garden to collect water • Poor draining would require amending the soil or another site • Sandy- compost added directly to the dug out area • Clay- break up soil with rototiller to improve drainage and sand could be added if necessary

  19. Site Selections

  20. Site Selection Soil Testing Data • Soil samples were taken from each of the three sites • The soil was filtered into components  • The results were used to determine the best site • Site 1 contains the most optimal conditions for the rain garden • More testing currently in progress  Percolation Testing • Procedure • 1-Foot-deep holes were dug in each of the three sites • Each hole was filled with water • The holes were allowed to sit for an hour • Amounts of drainage were observed Site 1-Almost full drainage into the soil after 1 hour  Site 2-Mostly drained after 1 hour Site 3- No drainage after 1 hour

  21. Percolation Tests 2 1 3

  22. Our Garden • Location • Near the parking lot • Grassy hill has incline • Parking lot has incline to edge • In case of flooding, sewage drain is there

  23. Construction Group • Obtained blue prints of the land • Check for pipes and other inconveniences • Made a scale model of our rain garden • Chose location for plants • After the site was picked • Performed water tests • For ammonia and nitrates- harmful things • Created a materials list • Best ones for the lowest cost • With the help of the bioengineering class • Chose a model for the rain garden • Kept in constant contact with Dr. Sciarappa • Rutgers University expert in environmental studies

  24. Construction Materials List

  25. Water Testing Results • Nitrates- Not present • Chlorine- Free Chorine • .1 mg/L • Total Chlorine • .1 mg/L • pH 6 • Ammonia- 0.2 mg/L

  26. Calculations Rain Garden Dimensions Perimeter 94 (3ft) Sidewalk 594 (18ft) Stop Sign End 3538 (116ft) Side 3538 (116ft) Side 7719 cm 77.19 m 253.8 ft Slope 270 (8.8ft) Width 9 (0.2ft) Downhill Height 9 / 270 X 100 = 3.3% These show that the rain garden should be 3 to 5 inches deep

  27. Soil Testing Results • pH 6.5 • Nitrogen • N3 - Sufficient • Phosphorous • P2 – Adequate

  28. Construction • With the help of Career Center, the ground was broken in with a rototiller • From there, we’ve dug 5 inches deep • Soil that was dug up would be collected by the Career Center • Planting is in process

  29. Impact of Our Project • For now, we would have a beautiful-looking garden that makes our parking lot look better and our school look like we have green thumbs. • In the long run, millions of gallons of water would be saved. Also, we could see animals interact and utilize the garden. Lastly, we got you to know about gardens and can hopefully care for it in years to come.

  30. Any Questions? (1 more slide left…yes!)

  31. Some Fun For You Now • Helping us plant various plants • Tour of an established rain garden

  32. Thank You For Listening!!!

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