Source:IowaNaturalResources ConservationService

RAIN GARDENS
SusanKenzle,RLA,LI WatershedProtectionDepartment CityofAustin

WatershedProtectionDepartment(WPD)
Missions:waterqualityprotectionanderosioncontrol
DIVISIONS
Environmental Resource Management Field Operations Watershed Engineering Watershed Policy and Planning Sustainable Stormwater Solutions Section
Design, implement & evaluate engineered systems that reduce pollution & erosion in our waterways. Stormwater is a resource. Water quality control retrofits Stream restoration

A rain garden is one of 7 green stormwater Infrastructure practices recognized by WPD as eligible for water quality credit

RainGardenTopics 1 2 3
4 WhatandWhy Types Plants Maintenance

RAIN GARDENS: WHAT &WHY

Source:IowaNaturalResources ConservationService

RainGarden:What?
Ashallow,vegetateddepressiondesignedtoabsorb andfilterrunofffromhardscapeslikeroads,sidewalks, driveways,roofs

RainGarden:Why?
Toslowandcleanstormwater: reduces erosionandflooding,protectswater qualitybyfilteringpollutants Tominimizepotablewateruseon landscapes Increasebaseflow increeksand groundwaterrechargebyenhancingwater infiltrationintothesoil(ratherthan overland) Tosupporthabitatforbirdsandbutterflies Aesthetics

RainGarden:Why?
Tocapture&infiltratestormwaterrunoff

Stormwaterentersinlet

FloodingofWestBouldin Creek intodevelopment

Erosion:WestBouldinCreek

ErosionRepair:WestBouldinCreek

Tofilterstormwaterandremovepollutants fromvarioussources

RainGarden:Why?

Source:treehugger.org

Source:mass.gov/dep/water/resources

Source:delcocd.org

Source:ristormwatersolutions.org

RainGarden:Why?
Tofilterstormwaterandremovepollutants

Source:IowaNaturalResourcesConservation Service

Plants&soil filterand remove pollutants

Source:greenhousecanada.com

RAIN GARDENS:
TYPES

Source:lowimpactdevelopment.org

RainGardens:info.sources
TheCityofAustinhastwo sourcesofinformationonRainGardens: CityofAustinEnvironmentalCriteriaManual(ECM),Section1.6.7 Commercial,Multifamily,Civic,andPublicR.O.W. GrowGreen(residential)

RainGardens:Types
CityofAustinECM1.6.7Hdetailsthreetypesofnonresidential Rain Gardens: FullInfiltration PartialInfiltration Filtrationwithnoinfiltration Residential raingardensarenotgovernedbytheECM. Fullinfiltration.

Source:liv.ac.uk

RainGardens
SOIL&WATERINFILTRATION
Type ofexistingsoilanditsinfiltrationrateeffectsthetypeofraingarden. Infiltrationtime:nonresidential(48hrs max.)andresidential(24hrs max.). Nonresidentialraingardens:nativesoilorbiofiltration media,underdrain system. Raingardengrowingmediumcharacteristics: Havesufficientwaterholdingcapacity; Beabletosustainhealthymicroorganismpopulation.
Simple InfiltrationTest Cheap Direct Infiltration Rate

Source:watab.net

Simple Infiltration test

Double ring Infiltration test

RainGardenTypes FullInfiltration

Capturesandfullyinfiltrates runoff Theinfiltrationcapacityofthesitesoilsareusedtoreduce stormwater runoffvolumeandassociated pollutants Nounderdrain

RainGardenTypes PartialInfiltration

Capturesandtreatsrunoffthroughabiofiltration bed,aspecialsoilmix Stormwater exitsthisraingardenin2ways: viaaraisedoutletpipe byinfiltrationintotheunderlyingsoil

RainGardenTypes Filtrationwithno
Infiltration

Capturesandconveysrunoffthrough: biofiltrationbed underdrainsystem

Noinfiltrationintounderlyingsoil.

RainGardenTypes Residential

Nativesoil Nounderdrainorconnectiontostormwater system

RainGardens: Examples
Raingardensacrossthecitytakevariousforms
Commercial Multifamily Civic PublicR.O.W. FullInfiltration PartialInfiltration Filtration FullInfiltration

Residential

RainGardenExamples Commercial

W34th Street

3300NIH35 AvedaInstitute

ZachScottTheater

RainGardenExamples Multifamily

WildflowerTerrace,Mueller WildflowerTerrace,Mueller

RainGardenExamples Civic
CityofAustin,OneTexasCenter NorthRG PartInfil. WestRG Infiltration EastRG PartInfil.

Inundated

Dry

WestRainGarden

OTCRainGardenFacts: 1.5ACdrainagearea; 761,615galoftreated stormwatertreated inan averageyear; Approximately1,000lbs totalsuspendedsolids prevented fromentering EastBouldin Creekand LadyBirdLake.

RainGardenExamples Civic

NWRecreationCenter

StacyPark

NWRecreationCenter

RainGardenExamples R.O.W.

10th &RioGrande

GroverAve.

ToddLane(future)

RainGardensExamples Residential

SolvitaTownhomes,Harmon Ave.

BellamyResidence

RAIN GARDENS: PLANTS

RainGardens:Plants
Plantsareanessentialcomponent theyfilterandcleanstormwater, and stabilizethesoil UseNativeoradaptedplants UseDroughttolerantplants Plantswithfibrousrootsystems are verybeneficial Plantrootswillmaintainandincrease soilporosity Avoidplantsthatrequirewelldrained soils Diversityofplanttypes

RainGardens:Plants
PLANTINFORMATIONSOURCES Nonresidential followECM1.6.7C, Biofiltration
Turf grass (e.g., buffalo grass) Groundcovers Small trees Other with approval Perennials Shrubs Grasses, Sedges

RainGardens:Plants
PLANTINFORMATIONSOURCES Residential GrowGreenbrochure LandscapePlantsguide

RainGardens:PlantsatOTCRainGardens

RainGardens:PlantsatOTCRainGardens

RAIN GARDENS: MAINTENANCE

Source:sbgardendesign.wordpress.com

RainGardens:ConsiderMaintenanceDuringDesign
Selectnativevegetation wheneverpossible. Planvegetation throughouttheentiregarden. Plantsshouldpredominate overmulchorgravelsoil stabilization.Properplantspacingisimportant. Crushed granite&othermaterialswithfinesshould notbeusedastheycanclogthesystem,preventing properdrainage. Ifpedestrian trafficisexpected, providestepping stonestodirectwalking. Plantspinyvegetationalonggardenedge to discourage pedestrian use. Designthegardendepression tobeasshallowas possibletofacilitatemowingandreduceerosion. Designwithmaintenance inmind.

RainGardens:PostconstructionMaintenance
Inflow

Keepcurbcutorotherinflowdeviceclearof leaves,trash,sediment,media

Removeexcesssedimentfrominsideinletto allowproperflowintoraingarden

RainGardens:PostconstructionMaintenance
Plants,Mulch,Soil

Replacedeadordiseased vegetation. 95%livingveg.isrequired.

Maintainmulchdepth&coverage. Nobareareasover10s.f. Repairerosion,animalburrows. Removeor controlweeds withminimal herbicide, pesticideuse. IPM

RainGardens:PostconstructionMaintenance
Plants

Bunchgrasses no shorterthan18
Pruneexcessive growthorpruneforplanthealth Donotprune nativeplantsingeometricor unnatural shapes

Mowsodforminggrasses noshorterthan3

RainGardens:PostconstructionMaintenance
Plants,Irrigation
Girdled trunk

Minimizeirrigationusebutkeep plantsadequately waterduring establishment anddrought Checksystemsperiodicallyfor properfunction,leaks

Treestabilization shouldberemoved after1year

RainGardens:PostconstructionMaintenance
Trash,DeadAnimals,StandingWater

Waterstandingforover48hrs maysignalclogging&become amosquitobreedingarea

Removedeadanimals,pet waste,andtrashregularly

QUESTIONS?

Source:IowaNaturalResources ConservationService