Where does the rain go when it drains from your roof?

If you live in the city, your storm water probably flows down your driveway or across your sidewalk and into a storm water sewer drain. Depending on where in the city you live, it might flow directly to a river or bay. Eventually it all ends up in the river or bay, carrying oil and gas, trash, household and industrial chemicals, bacteria, heavy metals, mineral salts, plastic particles and other pollutants with it. Heavy rains can produce abnormally heavy runoff that erodes channels and banks, floods urban streams, damages habitat, property and infrastructure, and threatens lives.

Storm water runoff can alter the natural flow of a river, channel or bay. Changing the flow can drastically affect water quality and the ability of stream or bay to support fish and other aquatic life. Fish and other aquatic organisms may respond to changes in flow in unexpected ways. Higher than natural flows can erode and scour a stream or channel. Lower than natural flows can concentrate pollutants and raise water temperatures, reduce the availability of oxygen and harm or kill fish, or prompt invasions of exotic plants and animals.

The U.S. Clean Water Act protects aquatic life by setting standards for local governments to protect water quality, but that might not be enough. Water quality managers are beginning to realize that to protect aquatic life and habitat they need to better understand how the natural flow of a stream or bay varies in space and over time. Communities, and even individuals, can provide a great deal of protection for aquatic habitat relatively easily by taking simple steps to reduce the amount of storm water runoff that flows from their property. You might be one of a growing number of Oregonians who are using some form of green infrastructure to keep your rainwater closer to home.

Green infrastructure is a set of cost-effective practices to reduce storm water runoff. It includes features such as rain gardens, green roofs, permeable pavements, bioswales, green streets and green parking, and techniques such as rainwater harvesting, planting urban trees, and open space to hold storm water in place long enough for it to seep into the ground.

Oregon’s Coastal Training Program at South Slough Reserve is building partnerships on the south Oregon coast to provide green infrastructure training. For more information about green infrastructure training, call John Bragg (541) 888-5558 ext. 129, or email john.bragg@state.or.us.

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