Rain Gardens: A proposal by the Accept the Greener Challenge Club

Accept the Greener Challenge Club Created in 2007 – Recommendations for NCSSM : o Reduce energy consumption o Capture solar energy for heat (especially hot water) and energy o Use cisterns and rain gardens to reduce treated water consumption and filter runoff from impervious campus surfaces o Apply green roofing materials on flat roofs on campus ~100 members (15% of student body)

Water Quality in the Ellerbe Watershed High levels of nitrogen and phosphorous lead to algae growth degrading water quality negatively affecting the whole ecosystem

Falls Lake Clean Water Requirements EPA requirements for the Falls Lake Watershed: o 20% reduction in total nitrogen by 2016 o 40% reduction by Proposed rain garden will remove: o ~1 lb Nitrogen/year, ~0.1 lb of Phosphorous/year

How Rain Gardens Work Water collects in rain gardens and is filtered through the soil. Reduces polluted runoff water that enters waterways.

Conservationists of the Year 2011 Award & Team

Rain Garden Proposal Filter runoff from newly-Paved Royall Parking lot and Cottage roof Main garden – 683 square feet Total approximate cost for excavation, mulch, soil amendment (sand), and plants: $3,070 Students provide labor estimated at ~ $1,000

What’s Needed to Proceed Permission to proceed Location of buried utilities Excavation help from Grounds Long-term commitment maintain garden Funding Options

Future Goals Additional rain gardens Cisterns on Maintenance Bldg. Street side o Control storm water runoff at NCSSM o Used to water and fertilize fields Creek Remediation Big Sweep-Ellerbe Creek clean-up Ensure clean, cool water entering creek from NCSSM