Rain Garden
In 2013 we realized that we wanted to handle our roof and parking lot run-off more effectively. We knew that Lake Champlain is badly impacted by impervious surface water runoff, along with excessive nutrient runoff from farmland areas. Consequently, one of our staff members helped us apply for and receive rain-garden engineering and education grants totalling $20,000 from the Champlain Basin Program.
In 2015, specialists used heavy equipment to install the new filtering drainage system. In the spring time our 7th and 8th graders from Team Renaissance planted the excavated areas with water-loving plants native to the region. In the following years the same team has helped weed and maintain the new drainage areas.
We believe that the rain garden has been a huge success. It filters our runoff properly regardless of how torrential downpours may be. Additionally, we love the fact that the installation of the new system meant that we no longer have an ugly runoff pipe flowing directly into our athletic fields. Children are not constantly playing in the dirty water. If they want to enjoy a good wetlands experience they simply have to walk over to our renovated wetlands area across the athletic fields of our 30-acre property.
In 2015, specialists used heavy equipment to install the new filtering drainage system. In the spring time our 7th and 8th graders from Team Renaissance planted the excavated areas with water-loving plants native to the region. In the following years the same team has helped weed and maintain the new drainage areas.
We believe that the rain garden has been a huge success. It filters our runoff properly regardless of how torrential downpours may be. Additionally, we love the fact that the installation of the new system meant that we no longer have an ugly runoff pipe flowing directly into our athletic fields. Children are not constantly playing in the dirty water. If they want to enjoy a good wetlands experience they simply have to walk over to our renovated wetlands area across the athletic fields of our 30-acre property.