Abundant Design: Public Stormwater Initiatives & Rain Gardens

As cities have grown, more and more forest and agricultural land has been converted to housing developments, shopping malls and office parks. With more and more parking lots, streets and rooftops, their impervious surfaces have caused more and faster runoff, promoting erosion and flooding. Another major side effect of this increased runoff is carrying pollutants directly to local streams and lakes. Without the filtering effect of healthy porous soil, runoff laden with automotive pollutants, sediment, bacteria and even lawn chemicals and fertilizers negatively impact water quality.

Many municipalities in Iowa are now promoting stormwater best management practices (BMPs) to reduce the amount of runoff associated with rain events.

Is your city providing Rebates? The RAIN CAMPAIGN is Live!

The local ecosystems of prairie, wetlands and forests were very good at infiltrating rainfall, with very little runoff. Deep roots allowed for percolation; soils high in organic matter held on to moisture.

Rain Gardens
Rain Gardens are generally one of the stormwater best management practices encouraged by local governments. These landscape features can integrate many aspects of these native ecosystems which can help with:

Increasing rainwater that filters into the ground, which recharges local and regional aquifers;
Preventing flooding and drainage problems;
Protecting streams and lakes from pollutants carried by stormwater with lawn fertilizers and pesticides, oil and other automotive pollutants, and numerous other harmful substances that wash off roofs and paved areas;
Enhancing the beauty of yards and neighborhoods;
Providing habitat for birds, butterflies and many beneficial insects.

These are pictures from a recent Rain Garden installation by Abundant Design.