St. Albans City School Stewardship Projects
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Rain Garden

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.
Picture
Open drainpipe - an attractive nuisance (2013)
Picture
The new basin completed without plants
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Digging in the plants
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Now no way for people to park in the garden
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Students caring for the rain garden
Picture
Excavating the initial drainage basin (2015)
Picture
Students carry out the new water-loving plants
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We failed to limit plant damage from parking
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An arial view of the run-off asphalt and roof areas
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Students weed the lower rain garden
Picture
Installing the new drainage pipes
Picture
Organizing the planting process (2015)
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We placed boulders around the garden (2015)
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This is the second part of the rain garden
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The secondary filtration site is downhill from the first
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The sign created for the rain garden

Images of the upper and lower rain gardens during the 2019 summer

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Flowers growing around the drain port of the upper rain garden
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Lower rain garden next to the basketball court and softball field
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A riot of growth is occurring in the lower rain garden in spite of student foot traffic through the area
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  • Home
    • Student Leaders
    • Property Map
  • Gardens, pollinators, chickens
    • Farm to School >
      • Message from FTS Coordinator
    • School Gardens >
      • School Gardens Phase 1
      • School Gardens Phase 2
    • Market Garden
    • Community Garden
    • Blueberries
    • Orchard
    • Maple Sugaring
    • Outdoor Classroom
    • Butterfly Garden
    • Pollinator Gardens
    • Pollinator Bees
    • Rain Gardens
    • Chickens
    • Christmas Trees
    • Tree & Bench
    • Urban Forest
    • Worm Bin
  • Food Education
    • FCS Kitchen
    • Field Trips
    • Cooking Cart
    • Fruit & Veg. Snacks
    • Taste Tests >
      • Recipes
  • Environment
    • Building Efficiency
    • Composting
    • Climate Change Podcast
    • Walking Biking Busing >
      • Walking Wednesdays
      • Bicycling
      • Busing
    • Wetlands
  • Community
    • Operation Happiness
    • Veterans Day
    • City Lighting
  • The School Stories
    • 50th Anniversary Video
    • 2018-19 Sch. Brochure
    • Green Ribbon School >
      • Cover Letter
      • Celebration
    • Cutting Edge Designs >
      • Our Products
    • HOPE Hands-On Ed. >
      • Cider Making
      • Maple Syrup
    • Messenger Articles >
      • Articles in 2020
      • Articles in 2019
      • Articles in 2018 >
        • Oct-Dec 2018 >
          • Fruits and Veggies
        • Jul-Sep 2018 >
          • SACS-Related Articles
          • Conscious Discipline
        • Apr-Jun 2018 >
          • Tricycles
          • Stewardship Day
          • Tech Conference
          • College Students
          • Commentator
          • Walking Contests
          • School Sign
          • 3D Printing
          • Science & Poetry
          • Dealing with Trash
        • Jan-Mar 2018 >
          • BFA Drama for SACS
          • Jr. Iron Chef Contest
          • Leadership
          • Basketball
          • Faculty Fun Night
          • Pinball Machines
          • Bobwhite Basketball
          • Snowshoes
          • Book Buddies
          • Skiing at Jay Peak
          • Peace Poster
          • Obstacle Course
      • Articles in 2017 >
        • Oct-Dec 2017 >
          • Maker Space
          • Walking to Wonder
          • Pirates Play
          • Day of Code
          • School Mall
          • Veterans Day
          • Wetland Wonders
          • Marketing
          • Local Experts
          • Financial Literacy
          • Cider Making
          • Farm to School
          • Pre-K Cottage
          • Maker Faire
        • Jul-Sep 2017 >
          • Butterflies
          • Market Garden
          • Way to Go
          • Tech Staff Departure
          • A Difference
          • New Year
          • Leadership
          • Humanities Camp
          • Holka Polka
          • Mindfulness
          • Local Ecosystems
    • Proj.-Based Learning
    • RiseVT Wellness >
      • Obesity Statistics
    • Walking Path >
      • Healthy People Grant
      • Dairy Council Grant
    • Chal. and Failures
    • Fields and Equipment
  • Contact