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. \ 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. \ \ \ \\ 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. \ \ 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 ------- |