Saint Paul's Church Rain Garden

Saint Paul's Church Rain Garden. A Tool for Stormwater Management. , Stormwater runoff is rainwater that flows off impervious surfaces such as rooftops, roads, and sidewalks. Runoff causes erosion in streambeds and displaces harmful pollutants such as oil, sediment, trash, and pet waste. This rain garden is capturing and infiltrating stormwater runoff that would otherwise run directly to Rock Creek and then eventually into the Potomac River., The "Saint Paul's Church Rain Garden and BayScape" was completed in the spring in 2013. This 1,200 square foot rain garden captures and treats runoff from 5,360 square feet of parking lot. With an average annual precipitation of 42 inches, this District of Columbia rain garden will capture around 123,180 gallons of stormwater each year. This garden is planted with native plants that tolerate both wet conditions and periods of drought. These plants attract native wildlife such as butterflies and birds., The Benefits of a Rain Garden , Rainwater flows to the rain garden, reducing erosion by capturing and holding onto stormwater runoff., Native plants create natural habitat for birds and butterflies., Surface layer of plants and mulch help to remove pollutants that are picked up by rainwater runoff., Engineered soils help to infiltrate rainwater and maintain our natural hydrology., Gravel drainage layer., Sustainable Landscaping , Native plants provide wildlife habitat and reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides. These plants also require less maintenance and less watering. The principles of sustainable design have been applied in many other regions, and are referred to by a variety of terms including "BayScaping" or "conservation landscaping.", Inkberry Ilex glabra . Marsh Hibiscus Hibiscus moscheutos . Common Rush Juncos effusus . Turtlehead Chelone lyonii . False Sunflower Heliopsis hellanthoides . Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata, Acknowledgements , This bioretention feature and sign were made possible with funds from the District Department of the Environment through a program administered by the Anacostia Watershed Society., The RiverSmart Communities Program , The RiverSmart Communities program provides financial and technical assistance to commercial properties, embassies, houses of worship, property owners, residents and managers of multi-family residential housing, small businesses, and universities. This program helps to install stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) to better manage stormwater runoff to prevent it from entering our streams and waterways., To apply visit http://ddoe.dc.gov/service/riversmart-communities or call (202) 654-6131 for more information.