Location for the rain garden, pre-construction. Rachel Carson NWR. 2008

Completed rain garden at Rachel Carson NWR. October 2008

            AmeriCorps members Liz Schwegler and Elizabeth Wolff designed and installed a rain garden adjacent to the visitor parking area at Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge in southern Maine.  Rain gardens are planted depressions that are designed to absorb precipitation runoff from impervious surfaces like roofs, driveways, walkways, and lawn areas.  This reduces polluted runoff by allowing the vegetation to take up the excess water and filter it through the soil layers before it enters the groundwater system.  The root systems of the rain garden will enhance infiltration, moisture redistribution, and encourage growth of diverse microbial populations involved in biofiltration. 

Schwegler and Wolff dug a sixty foot by twenty foot depression with a maximum depth of two feet.  Landscaping fabric was then placed at the bottom of the hole to increase filtration.  Approximately 8-10 inches of top soil covered the landscaping fabric and then native flowers and shrubs were planted throughout the garden.  Winterberry, nannyberry, Mohican vibernum, and rhododendron were planted in the depression, while wintergreen and Virginia creeper were planted around the depression as ground cover.  Cardinal flower, common violet, blue-flag iris, and butterfly weed were planted in front of the depression for aesthetic purposes, and to encourage use by butterflies and hummingbirds.  The rain garden will get its water supply through runoff from the residence building.  New gutters will be installed on the building to direct all precipitation runoff to the rain garden via the gutter downspout.  The placement of the rain garden near the visitor parking area will be a beautiful and educational attraction for years to come.

The refuge would like to extend many thanks to AmeriCorps members Liz, Elizabeth, and Bob Costa for seeing the project to fruition.