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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