illinois; case studey of challenges and success of rain gardens

8/3/2019 Illinois; Case Studey of Challenges and Success of Rain Gardens

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Maint enanc e Chal lenges

and Suc c ess St or ies

Infiltration BMPs in the Ground and

Working


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Agenda

1. City of Rock Island Native PrairieDetention Basin Project

2. City of Rock Island Rain GardenProgram (if time allows)


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Ci t y o f Roc k Is land

Nat ive Pra i r ie Det ent ion Basin


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NATIVE PRAIRIE DETENTION BASINALSO KN OWN AS TH E SAUK IE DETENTION BASIN


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Mesic-Dry PrairieCOMMON NAME

Big BluestemSide-Oats GramaCanada Wild RyeLittle BluestemIndian GrassNorthern Drop SeedSmooth Blue Aster

New England AsterCanadian Milk VetchWhite Wild IndigoGolden CassiaPrairie CoreopsisPurple Prairie CloverShowy Tick TrefoilPale Purple

Coneflower

Rattlesnake MasterWestern SunflowerPrairie SunflowerFalse SunflowerRound-Headed BushClover

Wet-Mesic PrairieCOMMON NAME

Big BluestemCrested Oval SedgeBrown Fox SedgeVirginia Wild RyePrairie Switch GrassPrairie Cord GrassNew England Aster

White Wild IndigoTall CoreopsisShowy Tick TrefoilRattlesnake MasterFalse SunflowerPrairie Blazing StarWild BergamotObedient PlantCommon Mountain Mint

Yellow ConeflowerBlack-Eyed SusanSweet Black-Eyed SusanCompass PlantPrairie DockGrass-Leaved GoldenrodRigid GoldenrodPurple Meadow RueCommon Ironweed

Golden Alexanders

Wet PrairieCOMMON NAME

Blue Joint GrassLance-Fruited Oval SedgeCommon Fox SedgeBrown Fox SedgeVirginia Wild RyeDudley's RushRice Cut Grass

Wool GrassSwamp MilkweedNew England AsterBristly AsterFalse AsterSpotted Joe Pye WeedCommon BonesetSneezeweedHalberd-Leaved Rose

MallowSouthern Blue FlagPrairie Blazing StarCardinal FlowerGreat Blue LobeliaSeedboxCommon Water HorehoundMonkey FlowerObedient Plant

Nat ive Plants- Des ign Seed Mix

Plants in black have been observed

Plants in red have not been observed

Rough Blazing StarPrairie Blazing StarCommon SpiderwortRigid GoldenrodOld Field GoldenrodCompass PlantRosin Weed

Black-Eyed SusanYellow ConeflowerPale Beard TongueWild Bergamot

Other plants observedbut not part of designseed mix:Butterfly WeedWhite Prairie CloverSeveral sedge speciesBellflowerBull Rush

Common MountainMintCup PlantRiddell's Goldenrod

Blue VervainCommon Ironweed


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Nat ive Pra i r ie Maint enanc e Sc hedule


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Ex is t ing Condi t ion


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During Construction-Facing West

During Construction-Facing West


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2005 Facing West

2005 South Side005 East side

2005 North Side


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2006 West side

2006 Lookin NW006 East side

2006 North Side


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2006 West 2006 Looking West

2006 East 2006 Lookin East


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2007 Facing West

2007 South side07 East side

2007 North side


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2008 Burn W back slope

2008 Burn lookin SE008 Burn lookin E

2008 Burn looking NE


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2008 Facing West

2008 South side008 East side

2008 North side


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2009 Facing West

2009 Facing East009 East side

2009 Facing East


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Chal lenges

1. Retrofit into fully developed urban watershed (47 Ac).

Detention

Basin


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Chal lenges

2. Had to sell the project and what it would look like tothe neighbors during the design phase.

3. A difficult neighbor lived next to the property.

4. Not everyone likes the look of native plants.


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Chal lenges

5. It was designed to be a dry bottom basin, butduring construction a natural water source wasdiscovered. There is almost always a smallamount of water flowing through the basin.

6. The velocity reductionstructure blew out afterthe first large storm.


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Chal lenges

7. It was a challenge to get the maintenancecontractor to perform their maintenance work in atimely manner.


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Chal lenges

8. Currently there is not a system in place to measurethe water quality impacts of this basin, or theamount of storm water infiltrated.

9. City staff currently is not trained to maintain nativeprairie plantings.


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Successes

1. The neighborhood storm water flooding problemhas been reduced and the project complies with the

storm water control ordinance.


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Successes

2. The site is low maintenance.

3. The native plants are thriving.

4. The biodiversity of the site increased.

5. The increased biodiversity attracts more wildlife and awider variety of wildlife.


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Successes

6. Most neighbors like the new look of the site and thewildlife it attracts.

7. The site improves water quality and storm water

infiltration.8. The site is used for public education.


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Cit y o f Roc k Is land

Rain Garden Prog ram


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Residential Rain Garden(collects rain from downspout)

Residential Rain Garden(collects runoff from the yard)

What is a Rain Garden?A ra in garden is a sha l low depression plan ted w i thperenn ia l plan ts tha t co l l ec t s s to rm w a te r runof f .Ra in gardens f i l l up w hen i t ra ins and shou ld be dryw i th in 24 to 48 hours a fte r i t s tops ra ining.


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The Ra in Ga r d e n s f o r Ro c k I s l a n d Pr o g r am w i ll re im b ur sep ro pe rt y o w n er s $4.00 per square foot for c onst ruc t ing anapproved ra in garden. A reduc t ion in t he st orm w at eru t i l i t y fee is a lso avai lab le for as long as t he rain garden isma in ta ined .


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Program Requirements:

1. The rain garden must collect and retain storm water runoff.2. The rain garden must be planted with perennial plants.

a. Native plants are encouraged but not required.3. Rain gardens must be a minimum of 1.6 deep (1 gal/sf)4. The maximum reimbursement size is 750 sf ($3,000

reimbursement).


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5. The program will pay for construction of new rain gardens.Existing rain gardens are not eligible for reimbursement

but can apply for the storm water utility credit.6. To receive the storm water utility credit, participants mustsubmit the credit application and maintain the rain garden.

7. Rain gardens are inspected each year. If the rain garden isnot maintained the credit will be removed.

Program Requirements:


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Chal lenges

1. Creating the program.

2. Each year there is not enoughmoney available to accept

everyone that wants toparticipate in the program.


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Chal lenges

3. Staff time to run the program.

4. How to measure the water quality benefits and thequantity of storm water infiltration.


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Successes

1. From 2005-2009 there have been 175 rain gardensconstructed by 102 property owners (64,936 sf). Thereare 13 people on the 2009 waiting list.

2. Anyone can build a rain garden, no special skills areneeded.


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Successes

3. To date all of the rain gardens have been maintained.

4. Rain gardens beautify neighborhoods and sustainwildlife.


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Successes

5. The rain gardens work (even in the native clay soils).They capture storm water and allow it to infiltrate into theground, even in clay soils. The infiltration reduces stormwater runoff, and improves water quality.


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Successes

6. Each rain garden is an opportunity for public education.

7. The rain garden program qualifies as one of the grantprograms promised to City Council when the storm

water utility was created.


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FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT

Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC

7500 N Harker DrivePeoria, IL 61615Office: 309-691-5300

Andrea Klopfenstein, PEEmail: [email protected]

City of Rock Island

Public Works Department1309 Mill StreetRock Island, IL 61201Office: 309-732-2200

Robert Hawes, PEPublic Works Director/Assistant City Manager

Email: [email protected]

Melody MillerRain Garden Program AdministratorEmail: [email protected]

illinois; case studey of challenges and success of rain gardens

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