Rutgers University Rain Garden Paper

Rain Garden Paper – Identify a site in your community where a rain garden would help recharge and remediate polluted stormwater runoff. Write 2 pages to describe the situation. Include:

• Where is the proposed site, what is the current problem it is experiencing, and how will a rain garden remediate the problem?
• Describe the ability of the garden to intercept pollution from the stormwater runoff.

Please take note that the primary purpose of a rain garden is to “intercept pollution from the stormwater runoff,” rather than to remediate an existing landscape problem such as pooling or standing weather after a soaking rain. When dealing with consistently or frequently wet soils in low areas, remember that pooling water is an indication of poor drainage and low infiltration rates into the soil. It is, therefore, not the ideal site for a rain garden. This situation is, however, a perfect opportunity for plantings of native moisture-loving plants to create a functional solution to an otherwise problematic site.

Several excellent resources are available to you for this assignment and will make you task much easier and your grade much higher if you take the time to review them:

Missouri Botanical Garden’s Rainscaping Guide

(https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/sustainability/sustainability/sustainable-living/at-home/rainscaping-guide.aspx (Links to an external site.))

Also, be sure to check out, “Is a Rain Garden Right for Your Site?

(https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/sustainability/sustainability/sustainable-living/at-home/rainscaping-guide/is-a-rain-garden-right-for-your-site/questionid/365/afmid/8228.aspx (Links to an external site.))

Jersey Friendly Yards – A great resource for many things including plant selection

(https://www.jerseyyards.org/create-a-jersey-friendly-yard/rain-gardens/ (Links to an external site.))

• Describe the dimension of the proposed garden and why you selected this site.
  Use a web-based rain garden calculator such as the one from the Three Rivers Rain Garden Alliance (http://raingardenalliance.org/right/calculator (Links to an external site.)) to determine the dimensions of your rain garden.
• Perform a percolation test and describe the soil type and any soil that need to be amended and what you will do
• List of plants, how many and why you selected them
• How will the garden be maintained?
• Digitally design your potential garden plan as a graphic or diagram. If you can only draw by hand, scan your drawing into a jpg for the dropbox. This graphic design/sketch should be submitted separately in the appropriate dropbox.

digital sketch of your rain garden below. Include the size, plants. Some examples can be seen below. You can do this digitally or by hand and scan it.

After you watch the video presentation on Green Design/Rain Gardens, compose 5 well-formed potential test questions with answers on the presentation. Please include 2 multiple-choice, 2 true/false, and 1 essay. PLEASE NOTE: You MUST indicate in an obvious manner, the correct answer for each of your multiple-choice and true/false questions. Your essay/short answer question must also include a suggested correct response of approximately 250 words.