Go
Visit the City of River Falls's first rain garden demonstration project!
*New
Pictures added April 2007!
2004 was the first Rain Garden
Demonstration Project that the City did. The City partnered with
the Kinnickinnic River Land Trust
(KRLT) to make this project
happen. We put an ad in the utility flyers as well as in the
River Falls Journal and received 27 responses of people interested in
having the garden put in their yard. We then ranked the sites
based on proximity to the river, visibility and amount of impervious
draining to the garden. The site chosen for our first project
was the home of Geoff and Marcia Scheurman at 409 Church Street!
Reasons for doing the project:
A rain garden diverts rain water from
the storm sewer system. By capturing the water you are also
capturing any pollutants that go along with it. The water is
then allowed to soak back into the ground as it did before a lot was
developed. Numerous gardens in the City could benefit the
Kinnickinnic River water quality. Our hope is that this project
will show citizens a practical and aesthetic way to help the water
quality of the Kinni.
How it all happened:
Many months of planning and preparing
finally led to the planting on September 9, 2004. After a site
was chosen we determined exactly where in the yard we wanted to place
the garden. We then picked a design from the How-to Manual and
ordered the plants. City crews helped to dig and shape the
garden, although this could be done by hand. Volunteers helped
to plant the plants, the grass and lay the erosion mat around the berm.
What's Next:
The City hopes to do another
demonstration project in 2005, if funds allow. Kinnickinnic
River Priority Watershed dollars are also available to offset costs of
gardens for homeowners. The Priority Watershed will provide 70%
funding if homeowners are willing to pay the remaining 30%. Those interested
in obtaining cost share dollars should contact Kristy Treichel, who's
information is provided below. The City is currently looking
into a project that would target one storm water outfall on the
Kinnickinnic and aiming to reduce the storm water flow to that
outfall. Planning is still in the preliminary stages for this
project and more information will be made available as planning
progresses.
Pictures of the Project
For more information about Rain Gardens
or obtaining Priority Watershed cost sharing, please contact Kristy
Treichel at ktreichel@rfcity.org
or (715) 425-0900, Ext. 152.
