Stormwater Management in Your Backyard

Transcription

1 Stormwater Management in Your Backyard An Extension Initiative for New Jersey, New York and Virginia This material is based upon work supported by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under Agreement No

2 The goal of this project is to empower local stakeholders in rural / urbanizing watersheds to protect groundwater resources by installing rain gardens on their property.

3 Who are our Partners? Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Union and Gloucester Counties Rutgers Water Resources Program Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension of Fredrick County

4 What is a Rain Garden? Landscaped areas that treat stormwater runoff. Designed to merge two important goals: aesthetics and water quality. Can be blended into the landscape and made to look natural. Water is directed into them by pipes, swales, or curb openings.

5 Rutgers Cooperative Extension Rain Garden Project GOAL: To have the rain gardens serve as a model for county residents who are interested in controlling polluted runoff and to help recharge the groundwater. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection grant to Rutgers Cooperative Extension and partial funding from the USDA Regional Water Coordination Program Rain gardens were constructed by the Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County, in cooperation with Rahway River Association along the Robinson Creek Branch of the Rahway River. Photos by Linda Brazaitis

6 2005 Rain Garden Partners Rutgers Master Gardeners of Union County Rahway River Association

7 Rain Garden Education Children s Programs Walnut Avenue Elementary School Fanwood Library 85 students participated. Clean Up Messy Town Enviroscape Tour of Rain Garden

8 Program Evaluation Identify sources of water pollution Identify ways to protect ground water

9 Rain Garden Education Evaluation Results Students could identify 50% more ways to protect ground water. On a scale of 1-3, 3 indicating they learned a lot, students rated their learning about protecting ground water as 2.71 and rain gardens as % of the students will tell someone what they learned about rain gardens. 96% would like to learn more about protecting water.

10 Rain Garden Education Presentation on How to Build a Rain Garden Garden tours Web site: Fact sheets Evening tour of Fanwood Rain Garden Poster

11 USDA CSREES National Water Quality Program Three year grant, September 2007 August 2010 Rain Garden installation and maintenance training for Master Gardeners in NJ, NY and VA Training for Professional Landscapers Public Outreach Programs at rain garden demonstration sites

12 Project Timeline Year 1 November 2007 Extension professionals meet to plan project March 2008 Training program for Cornell Master Gardeners June 2008 Training program for Virginia Tech Master Gardeners

13 Project Timeline Year 1 May & June 2008 first community demonstration rain gardens installed Summer 2008 Rain Garden Maintenance Summer / Fall 2008 Educational Materials prepared for public outreach programs

14 Project Timetable Year 2 Winter/Spring 2009 Training for professional landscapers Spring 2009 Training for Master Gardeners Spring 2009 Second Community Rain Garden Demonstration Installed

15 Project Timetable Year 2 June 2009 Promotion of Community Outreach programs July / August 2009 Community Outreach Programs at demonstration sites Fall 2009 Start of Mini-Grant program

16 The Mini-Grant Program Open to Master Gardeners and people who participated in the public outreach programs. Five mini-grants of $200 worth of plant material / soil amendments to help people install rain gardens on their property.

17 The Mini-Grant Program Applicants must complete an application form and rain garden design plan. A team of Extension professionals and three Master Gardeners will select mini-grant recipients.

18 The Mini-Grant Program Recipients must submit a report, photos of the residential rain garden and allow Extension personnel / Master Gardener project leaders to visit and photograph the residential rain gardens.

19 Project Timetable Year 3 December 2009: Mini-Grant recipients notified Winter / Spring 2010: Professional Landscaper Training Spring 2010: Master Gardener Training

20 Project Timetable Year 3 Third Community Demonstration Rain Garden installed Mini-Grant rain gardens installed Summer 2010: Community Outreach Programs Fall 2010: Mini-Grant program evaluation

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