North Carolina Cooperative Extension Backyard Rain Garden Program: Lessons Learned Mitch Woodward, Charles Humphrey, Bill Lord, Dwane Jones, Bill Hunt, Kelly Collins, Lara Rozzell, Wendi Hartup, Charlotte Glen

Goal: Pushing Back the Frontiers of Stormwater - Ignorance

Raingardens slow water runoff and improve water quality

Rainfall Storage Infiltration Rice Creek Watershed District

Rain Gardens Can Be Welcome Additions to Landscapes!!!

Design Principles of Rain Gardens Handles stormwater at its source. Decreases the velocity of water flowing from impervious surfaces. Improves water quality before it enters the stream or ditch. Keeps water on the surface aiding infiltration Cost effective (average $2-$3 per sq ft)

Rain garden benefits Add beauty (and value) to your property Minimizing rainwater runoff to storm drains or streams while allowing excess rainwater to filter slowly into the soil Protecting our valuable water resources Provide wildlife habitat Adaptable to other community problem areas

NCSU 7 Pilot Counties Funding Provided by 319

Match $$$ provided by involving County Extension Agents $ …..Im just matching funds to you, arent I?

Target: Homeowners Homeowner Workshops - How To Rain GardenHomeowner Workshops - How To Rain Garden –Stormwater Management –How to Build –Which Plants Work Best –Maintenance Issues Rain Garden Events with Sign UpRain Garden Events with Sign Up Site visits and data collectionSite visits and data collection Installation Cost-Share OfferedInstallation Cost-Share Offered Follow-up to see maintenance issues and healthy plantsFollow-up to see maintenance issues and healthy plants Homeowner Workshops - How To Rain GardenHomeowner Workshops - How To Rain Garden –Stormwater Management –How to Build –Which Plants Work Best –Maintenance Issues Rain Garden Events with Sign UpRain Garden Events with Sign Up Site visits and data collectionSite visits and data collection Installation Cost-Share OfferedInstallation Cost-Share Offered Follow-up to see maintenance issues and healthy plantsFollow-up to see maintenance issues and healthy plants

Homeowner Education: Garden Location & Installation Where does water flow ? Where does water travel or collect? Observe your yard during a rainfall event

Site Visits and Data Collection Source and path of stormwater Size of impervious surfaces Soils type (sandy, clayey, rocky or mixed) Proximity to wells, foundations, septic systems Existing landscape features Source and path of stormwater Size of impervious surfaces Soils type (sandy, clayey, rocky or mixed) Proximity to wells, foundations, septic systems Existing landscape features

Soil Evaluation

Be Aware of Clay Soils!

If drains less than 1 hour = too fast and plants wont establish If drains more than hours = too wet ! Backyard wetland?

412 Simerville Edward Baker PROBLEM: Water drains directly from roof and lot into pipes, without opportunity for treatment or infiltration. SOLUTION: This lot is the ideal location for a rain garden, 1) Enhance water treatment capacity by excavating existing native soil and replace w/ high permeability soil. 2) Carefully manage irrigation system to maintain a dryer soil to avoid rain runoff.

Sizing Chart Impermeable Surface Area Rain Garden Size Potential Rain Garden Dimensions (ftXft) 800 ft 2 40 ft 2 4X10, 5X8, 6X ft 2 50 ft 2 5X10, 6X ft 2 60 ft 2 4X15, 5X12, 6X10, 8X ft 2 70 ft 2 5X14, 7X ft 2 80 ft 2 7X12, 8X10, 9X ft 2 90 ft 2 6X15, 7X13, 8X12, 9X10 5 %

Rain Garden Installations

Raleigh Rated as Good Day of Installation+ 18 Months

Raleigh #2 Day of Installation + 3 years Fair Condition Maintenance issues persist!

Cary Fair Continues to work well Fall After InstallationAfter 1 year, 2 inch rain

Durham Museum of Life and Science Fair Great Demonstration Site Day of Installation + 18 Months

Project Results 60+ Gardens treat 1 ac impervious surface Nitrogen removed over next 20 yrs 13 Workshops -11 Homeowner, 2 Master Gardener Created Local Expertise: Agents - Master Gardener Trainings Landscaper Trainings Demonstrations at Fairs and Museum Increased local Interest / Installations Strong Website Support Future opportunities = LID

What didnt work

Minor Mishaps

Failures

Summary of Preliminary Analysis of Raingarden Condition. Rain gardener TypeRain garden Condition*______ GoodFairFailure Avid 1031 Gardener Environmentalist 27 Direct Connection44 To Resource Flooding23 Issues Required by Law8158** Educators / Schools15 *Good:Maintained well, functioning as designed. Fair:Maintenance not evident, still provide some treatment Failure:Not maintained, not functioning.

Rain Gardens Maintenance Issues 2 Years after Installation. Maintenance IssueNumber of Rain gardens Affected Berm / Weir Failure6 Plants / Planting49 Soils / Drainage10 Sedimentation / 8** Clogging Mulching38 General Neglect / Abandoned9