Nineteenth Street Baptist Church Stormwater Features

Nineteenth Street Baptist Church Stormwater Features. .

"I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and parched ground into springs. I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it." (Isaiah 41:18-20 New International Version).

What's Happening Here? Stormwater runoff (rainwater that flows off surfaces such as rooftops and parking lots) causes erosion in streambeds and carries harmful pollutants such as oil, sediment, trash, and animal waste. The permeable pavement and BayScape installed here are capturing and treating stormwater runoff that would otherwise run into Rock Creek, the Potomac River, and eventually into the Chesapeake Bay., Rain that falls on the courtyard and surrounding roofs here at Nineteenth Street Baptist Church drain into this permeable pavement system and BayScape garden. The project was was completed in the spring of 2020. This permeable paver system in 650 square feet in area. With an average annual precipitation of 40 inches, these stormwater management practices will treat over 62,000 gallons of polluted stormwater each year., The Benefits of Permeable Pavers Rainwater flows into the cracks between the pavers, down through the permeable joint material, and then through the underlying permeable bedding course. Supporting the permeable paving parking system and holding a significant amount of water is a 12 inch thick layer of base stone and sub-base stone. Slowing down the water through the permeable material helps to filter and cleanse the polluted runoff. Permeable paver systems dramatically slow the flow of stormwater and can allow for infiltration further into the ground depending on the infiltration rate of underlying silt. The underdrain allows for any excessive stormwater from very large storms to flow gradually into the sewer system., Native Plants in this Garden Native plants provide habitat for wildlife such as butterflies and birds, reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides, and require less maintenance and less watering than plants not native to the region. They tolerate both wet conditions and periods of drought. These principles of sustainable design are referred to by a variety of terms including "BayScaping" or "conservation landscaping.", River Birch Betula nigra . Fringe Tree Chionanthus virginicus . Sweetspire Itea virginica . Inkberry Holly Ilex glabra . Blue Flag Iris Iris versicolor . Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa . Northern Sea Oats Chasmanthium latifolium . Sedge Carex pensylvanica, Acknowledgements: We would like to thank the Nineteenth Street Baptist Church Family and ANC 4A for their continued support of this project., The RiverSmart Communities Program This District-wide program provides financial and technical assistance to non-profit organizations and religious institutions interested in reducing stormwater runoff from their properties by installing rain barrels, cisterns, green roofs, rain gardens, permeable pavement, shade trees, and more. These installations prevent polluted stormwater from entering our streams and waterways., To learn more about how to get involved, visit https://doee.dc.gov/service/get-riversmart or call 202-535-1735 for more information.