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.

Open drainpipe - an attractive nuisance (2013)

The new basin completed without plants

Digging in the plants

Now no way for people to park in the garden

Students caring for the rain garden

Excavating the initial drainage basin (2015)

Students carry out the new water-loving plants

We failed to limit plant damage from parking

An arial view of the run-off asphalt and roof areas

Students weed the lower rain garden

Installing the new drainage pipes

Organizing the planting process (2015)

We placed boulders around the garden (2015)

This is the second part of the rain garden

The secondary filtration site is downhill from the first

The sign created for the rain garden