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RiverSmart Fall 2011 RiverSmart Summer 2011 Runoff in Target Neighborhoods
Spring 2011 Rain Garden Installation Examples of Native Plants (PDF)

RiverSmart Fall 2011

An entire backyard lawn was replaced with elegant BayScaping and a deep rain garden. Steve Saari, DDOE, explains importance of stormwater management to group of watershed stewards.
An entire backyard lawn was replaced with elegant BayScaping and a deep rain garden. Steve Saari, DDOE, explains importance of stormwater ma nagement to group of watershed stewards.

RiverSmart Summer 2011

A downspout is installed under a walkway. A downspout directs water over rocks into rain garden.
Roof runoff will flow underneath walkway into rain garden.
 Extended downspout near tree will send water over river rocks into rain garden.
A new rain garden was installed within an existing plant bed. An elevated side yard plated with native plants.
Beautiful new rain garden sits within existing pachysandra.
 Elevated side yard is now BayScaped with plants native to the Chesapeake Bay region.
A small front yard rain garden planted with native plants. A downspout directs water onto a new pervious driveway.
Thirsty native plants fill a deep rain garden in small front yard.
 Downspout on left now sends stormwater into pervious walkway—not into shed!

Runoff in Target Neighborhoods

RiverSmart Washington will reduce runoff from hard surfaces such as alleys and driveways which now act as “chutes”, sending sheets of water into storm drains and on to Rock Creek.

Cracked pavement. Photo credit: Kaye EvansDriveway. Photo credit: Kaye EvansWater running down a paved alley

 

Front yards in target neighborhoods vary from pocket-sized, flat, or steeply sloped. BayScaping and rain gardens will help to slow and capture rain close to where it falls.

Small front yardsFlat front lawnSloping front lawn

 

Water runs straight along street curbs, carrying trash and pollution into storm drains at intersections. “Streetscaping” with curb bumpouts and infiltration boxes will reduce the volume of runoff. The yellow arrow in photo at far right shows location where runoff is measured in the MacFarland neighborhood.

Silt runoff on 32nd StreetIntersection of Q Street and 33rd StreetStormdrain in the MacFarland neighborhood. Photo credit: Kaye Evans

 

RiverSmart Washington will install porous materials in place of impervious walkways, parking lots and parking pads. Many attractive new designs and colors are available.

Corner store. Photo credit: Kaye EvansFront walkway made of paversParking lot. Photo credit: Kaye Evans


• Photo credits: Kaye Evans

 

Spring 2011 Rain Garden Installation

Lewis rain garden before installation. Rain garden during installation.
Rain garden will go between blueberry bush (left) and rose bush (right). Rain gardens are at least 12” deep to hold runoff from rooftop.
Native plants to be used in the rain garden. New rain garden plants and an existing rose bush.
Native plants are arranged in place. Rain garden design is careful to protect existing plants.
Bare ground between the sidewalk and the street. Recycled sod planted between the sidewalk and the street.
Public space between sidewalk and street is often neglected. Sod removed for backyard rain garden finds new home!