Rain  Garden  Demonstration  Site

   This site demonstrates and allows EPA to document the capabilities of rain gardens to allow stormwater to seep, or infiltrate, into underlying soil where it will
   eventually recharge groundwater and nearby streams. Infiltration of stormwater in rain gardens serves to reduce stormwater runoff volumes, improve water
   quality through removal of stormwater contaminants, and enhance the physical and biological integrity of streams.
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Research
Stormwater runoff from Building 205 and the adjacent parking
lot is directed through a pipe and curb cuts into the rain
garden. The rain garden has six cells of different sizes sepa-
rated by walls, allowing researchers to study how size affects
the ability of rain gardens to infiltrate stormwater runoff cre-
ated by a wide range of storm sizes. Instruments buried in the
media and underlying soil measure how quickly runoff infilv
trates through the rain garden profile into the underlying soil.
Results
The rain garden will help EPA study:
•  How rain gardens mimic natural drainage processes and
  reduce stormwater runoff volume to the conventional
  storm sewer system.
•  The effects of surface area on drainage properties of rain
  gardens.
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Acknowledgements
This project is a joint research
effort between EPA's Office of
Administration and Resources
Management, Region 2, and
the Office of Research and
Development.
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                                                                          Underground Walls
         Runoff from Building 205
         (Under Sidewalk)
                                           Groundwater
                                                                    Engineered Media
                                                                    Gravel
                                                                    Underlying Soil
                                                                                             Native Plants for Mid-Atlantic Rain Gardens
                                                                                                          Trees
                                                                                                          Red Maple
                                                                                                          Redosier
                                                                                                          Dogwood
                                                                                                       Shrubs
                                                                                                       Highbush
                                                                                                       Blueberry
                                                                                                       Beach Plum
                                                                                                       Winterberry
                                                                                                       Black Chokeberry
                                                                                                       Groundsel Tree
                                                                       Grasses/Rushes
                                                                       Switchgrass
                                                                       Indian Grass
                                                                     \  Big Bluestem
                                                                       Common Rush


                                                                       Herbs
                                                                       Seaside Goldenrod
                                                                       Blue Flag
                                                                       Sunflower
                                                                       Golden Zizia

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