Groundbreaking Held for First Rain Garden
Construction of the first Oklahoma rain garden began in Grove Thursday, April 19 and may change the way storm water is handled in Oklahoma . Other area rain gardens will follow at Lendonwood Gardens, Cherokee Queen/Royal Bay Restaurant, Grove High School, Elm Creek Plaza (home of El Vallarta restaurant), and a few residential homes.
“When it rains, water that runs at the surface (over parking lots or lawns) picks up pollutants (including fertilizer, metals, oil, etc.) and washes them toward local streams and lakes. Rain gardens are designed to capture that runoff.” said CLEAR GRAND coordinator Kevin Gustavson.
Once the water enters a rain garden, the plants and soils significantly clean that water by trapping or using the excessive nutrients, oils, and metals that would otherwise flow on to local streams and lakes.
Rain gardens also provide some flood control by holding water that would otherwise run to streams. As a result, they are a cost effective alternative to storm water detention ponds and provide an additional benefit of filtering pollutants.
These demonstration rain gardens, designed by researchers from the OSU Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, will be monitored to demonstrate their effectiveness at reducing pollution bound for local water bodies. They will also serve as examples to help expand this practice in the area, and throughout Oklahoma and the region, especially in new developments. The ground breaking on April 19 will be the first step toward reducing the impact of new developments on the streams and lakes of Oklahoma .
The fist local rain garden will be highlighted at the CLEAR GRAND Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 21. Have fun while learning about ongoing projects to reduce water pollution and beautify the environment. Visitors can take guided tours of Bernice State Park and Lendonwood Botanical Gardens, paint with Oklahoma soils, board the Cherokee Queen paddlewheel riverboat, learn about healthy lawn practices, participate in the H2Olympics, and much more. Events run from 10 AM – 3 PM, with headquarters at the Grand Lake Visitor Center on Hwy 59 N.
The CLEAR GRAND project is a collaborative effort to keep Grand Lake clean as well as the streams and rivers that feed it. The project is funded by EPA through Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act, with matching funds from the State of Oklahoma and other sources, and headed by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Water Quality Division. Many partners contribute to the CLEAR GRAND project including OSU Extension, local conservation districts, Department of Environmental Quality, Grand Lake Association, Oklahoma Water Watch, Statewide Blue Thumb, Grand River Dam Authority, and many more.
For more information about the CLEAR GRAND project, rain gardens, and the Earth Day Celebration, visit the project website: grandlakefun.com/cleargrand.
“When it rains, water that runs at the surface (over parking lots or lawns) picks up pollutants (including fertilizer, metals, oil, etc.) and washes them toward local streams and lakes. Rain gardens are designed to capture that runoff.” said CLEAR GRAND coordinator Kevin Gustavson.
Once the water enters a rain garden, the plants and soils significantly clean that water by trapping or using the excessive nutrients, oils, and metals that would otherwise flow on to local streams and lakes.
Rain gardens also provide some flood control by holding water that would otherwise run to streams. As a result, they are a cost effective alternative to storm water detention ponds and provide an additional benefit of filtering pollutants.
These demonstration rain gardens, designed by researchers from the OSU Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering, will be monitored to demonstrate their effectiveness at reducing pollution bound for local water bodies. They will also serve as examples to help expand this practice in the area, and throughout Oklahoma and the region, especially in new developments. The ground breaking on April 19 will be the first step toward reducing the impact of new developments on the streams and lakes of Oklahoma .
The fist local rain garden will be highlighted at the CLEAR GRAND Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 21. Have fun while learning about ongoing projects to reduce water pollution and beautify the environment. Visitors can take guided tours of Bernice State Park and Lendonwood Botanical Gardens, paint with Oklahoma soils, board the Cherokee Queen paddlewheel riverboat, learn about healthy lawn practices, participate in the H2Olympics, and much more. Events run from 10 AM – 3 PM, with headquarters at the Grand Lake Visitor Center on Hwy 59 N.
The CLEAR GRAND project is a collaborative effort to keep Grand Lake clean as well as the streams and rivers that feed it. The project is funded by EPA through Section 319(h) of the Clean Water Act, with matching funds from the State of Oklahoma and other sources, and headed by the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Water Quality Division. Many partners contribute to the CLEAR GRAND project including OSU Extension, local conservation districts, Department of Environmental Quality, Grand Lake Association, Oklahoma Water Watch, Statewide Blue Thumb, Grand River Dam Authority, and many more.
For more information about the CLEAR GRAND project, rain gardens, and the Earth Day Celebration, visit the project website: grandlakefun.com/cleargrand.
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posted by Editor | 1:16 AM
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