Rain Gardens - Sustainable Solutions for Storm Water Runoff

1. Rain
Gardens
Sustainable Solutions for Storm Water Runoff

2. What is a rain garden?
The design of a rain garden
emulates natural watersheds
and wetlands.
A rain garden is a shallow
basin that slows down,
temporarily holds rainwater,
allowing it to be. absorbed
into the soil and by the plants
Rain gardens can also be a
solution to low areas
with moist soils

4. Surrounding terrain that
drains into the rain garden
Transition zone of
the rain garden Bioswale
Surrounding
terrain that
drains into the
rain garden
Rain garden basin

5. Surrounding terrain draining towards rain
garden = driest zone
Bioswale = alternately wet/dry zone
Transition zone surrounds the basin of rain
garden = alternately wet/dry zone
What is a rain garden Rain garden basin = this zone stays wet
the longest, sometimes permanently
Overflow spillway is similar to the
bioswale and directs flow towards
traditional stormwater system
Examples of small
residential size
rain gardens

7. N.C. State University

8. Design Styles
Reconstructed wetlands…

9. Or…
Conventional/traditional
style

10. Design should include
elements for
interaction
The benefit of natural aesthetics
and replaced habitat offers other
opportunities for communities,
such as education and recreation

11. Rain Gardens of any size will
reduce the quantity and
velocity of storm water runoff.
Any reduction is a benefit.
Water quality is
improved as well

12. A Few Tips to Keep in Mind
*Size is approx. 20-30% of surface
draining towards rain garden
*A rain garden should be no closer than
10 ft. from a building
*Basin should be 4-8” minimum
*Grade to ensure that water flows from
the source to the rain garden and
beyond to convention storm water

14. Surrounding terrain

15. Always maintain a clean edge
to give a finished, ‘garden’ look
St. Phillips Church in Annapolis, MD
Olivette MO

16. Sturtevant, WI
Franklin, NH
Springfield, MO

17. Geauga County, Ohio

19. Rhode Island
10,000 rain gardens in KC, MO
Connecticut
www.capecodgroundwater.org

20. www.ci.liberty.mo.us

21. Bioswales …
can be planted
dry stream beds
www.swtdesign.com

23. Okeechobee County Cincinnati Zoo
Lincoln, NE

25. St. Charles Boathouse

26. Columbia, MO

27. Shaw Nature Reserve

28. Contrast foliar texture and plant form
Choose plants
with
different
bloom
periods

29. Native Landscaping Manual
is part of the
Native Plant School
held at Shaw Nature Reserve
Great plant lists of Missouri
native plants for rain gardens
www.shawnature.org