Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A proposed garden of natural flowers and grasses on campus could ensure that, next fall, rains like those experienced last week won’t be flushed down the drain.
The rain garden will provide a place for rainwater to infiltrate into the ground rather than running into the Lawrence’s sewer system.
Studie Red Corn, Shawnee senior, initiated and designed the rain garden project as another link in the chain of student-initiated environmental endeavors on campus.
Students will install the 5,480 square feet of plants and limestone on the north side of the Student Recreation Fitness Center early next semester when the building’s extension has been completed.
Rain gardens provide a place for rainwater to permeate into the ground as opposed to Lawrence’s sewer system. A rain garden was proposed for the north side of the Student Fitness Recreation Center.
“This would probably be the largest student-designed project that ever happened on campus,” Red Corn said.
Plants in the garden will range from goldenrods and geraniums to Indian and Little bluestem grasses – all of which occur naturally in Kansas.
Red Corn said the colorful array of native vegetation would be highly visible on campus. It would also help diminish some of the water pollution caused by rainwater runoff on the paved areas surrounding the recreation center.
Rainwater can sweep across parking lots, walkways and rooftops, picking up pollutants such as oil, grease, chemicals, and metals and depositing them into nearby rivers and lakes. The Environmental Protection Agency cites this as one of the leading sources of pollution in water bodies in the U.S.
The rain garden project will lessen the water pollution by catching rainwater where it falls and infiltrating it deep into the soil by way of the plants’ roots.
The environmental benefit of rain gardens has led to development of larger movements, such as the 10,000 Rain Gardens initiative in Kansas City, Mo.
Lynn Hinkle, project manager of 10,000 Rain Gardens, said the project began three years ago when research showed that rain gardens scattered across the city helped alleviate overflow problems in Kansas City’s sewer system.
Hinkle said the project, paid for by the Water Services Department of Kansas City, Mo., has helped raise awareness for ways to reduce pollution related to storm water runoff.
“By virtue of what KU is doing, we’re really seeing it take off,” Hinkle said. “Three years ago, nobody knew what a rain garden was. Now they’re familiar with it.”
The garden will cost about $37,600, the bulk of which will come from grant money, Student Senate and the recreation center.
Though there isn’t specific data on the effect of rain gardens, Red Corn said he was confident the garden would make a difference on campus.
“The University is at a point where it has a lot to gain with sustainability,” Red Corn said. “And students, including myself, are learning a lot in the process.”
— Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
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Comments
Rain garden could save water
Way to go Studie! This is a great example of a project that helps students, help the environment.
http://connectku.com/wiki/index.php/KU_Rain_Gardens
Rain garden could save water
Mary, What the students are doing is an excellent example of a living outdoor classroom, as well as the proven most effective storm water management tool. There is plenty of data and proof that rain gardens are effective. In Burnsville, MN, the city made cuts in curbs and planted rain gardens between the sidewalks and the streets along whole blocks so rain would water the gardens instead of running into the storm drains. They measured the impact and found the rain gardens kept 94% of rain water out of the storm water system. http://www.landandwater.com/features/vol48no5/vol48no5_2.php there are others. You can find any number of resources available at our website www.rainKC.com Best of luck to the students. I'll look forward to seeing the garden this summer as it grows.
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