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Leading by Example
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Rain gardens are depressional areas landscaped with perennial flowers and
native vegetation that soak up rainwater. Rain gardens are strategically
located to capture runoff from impervious surfaces such as roofs and
streets. They fill with a few inches of water that
filters into the ground rather than running off to a storm drain.
Learn more
about rain gardens. |
When Iowa NRCS district conservationist Dale DuVal and Iowa Department of
Agriculture urban conservationist Rich Maaske moved to their new office in
Council Bluffs, they saw the perfect opportunity to
utilize available green space for an urban conservation demonstration. “The old
service center building was surrounded by pavement and asphalt,” said DuVal. “The new building has some green space, so the staff wanted to install some
urban conservation practices.”
DuVal and his staff along with 30 other individuals from
local businesses, government agencies, and the community installed three rain
gardens covering approximately 1,300 square feet.
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(above) shaping of the rain gardens (NRCS photo)
rain gardens featured native landscaping (NRCS photo)
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DuVal said the demand for technical assistance from urban clients has increased
drastically in the last four years. “As communities like Council Bluffs grow,
increasing the area covered by impervious surfaces, it is important to find ways to help rainwater
infiltrate. Practices such as rain gardens protect water quality and reduce
storm water runoff.”
Rain gardens are designed and planted with several factors in mind including
location, size, garden depth, soil amendments, and plant selection. It is
important to water rain gardens regularly throughout the first season, but once
established, they will thrive without additional watering
Maaske said it took a day to shape the rain gardens and apply a compost blanket. Compost blankets provide a soil amendment consisting of decomposed organic waste
with a consistency similar to high quality topsoil but with a much higher
organic matter content. Compost absorbs the impact of raindrops preventing
detachment of soil particles.
The team of installers spent another day planting and mulching more than 25
varieties of native plants and wildflowers. “Native
plants developed under adverse local conditions,” said Maaske, “they can
handle the pressure from insects and other wildlife. Their root systems
penetrate deep into the soil helping to develop the soil structure that allows
storm water to infiltrate instead of running off the landscape.”
NRCS also hosted a rain garden class for volunteers who assisted with the
planting and mulching. “Since we installed our rain gardens,
our office has received several requests for assistance to install rain gardens
in residential neighborhoods and on commercial properties,” said DuVal.
Your contact is Jason Johnson,
NRCS public affairs specialist, at 515-323-2701.
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