With the construction of the new public works garage along West Canal Road, we were required to construct rain gardens to filter out any contaminants from our storm water runoff before it leaves our property and drains ultimately to the Chesapeake Bay.
A rain garden is a garden of native trees, shrubs, perennials, and flowers planted in a depression, which is generally formed on a natural slope. It is designed to temporarily hold and soak in rain water runoff that flows from roofs, driveways, patios or lawns. Rain gardens are effective in removing up to 90% of nutrients and chemicals and up to 80% of sediments from the rainwater runoff. Compared to a conventional lawn, rain gardens allow for 30% more water to soak into the ground.
Due to this recent construction we now have 4 additional rain gardens that we are responsible to operate and maintain to satisfy Federal, State & Local storm water runoff regulations. Township staff has been busy planting Heritage River Birch trees, cat o’ nine tails, cardinal flowers, white turtlehead flowers and great blue lobelia flowers in the bottom of the rain gardens to help absorb water. In the Spring of 2020, we will be planting additional native detention pond wildflowers in the remaining areas.
