Snack-able Rain Garden in Clive

Earlier this year Clive rolled out its new stormwater assistance program 

City of Clive's 

NEWLY UPDATED 

Stormwater Assistance Program

We shared their website on our social media, and soon after, we were contacted about installing a rain garden close to our office.  The first one using their new program.

The homeowner wanted to help by reducing her runoff and is making steps to become more environmentally responsible with her property - less spraying and more habitat.  However, she isn't fond of the wild, "prairie look" and hoped for something "tidy" looking.

Keeping this in mind, much of the basin floor was covered with low growing sedges for a clean palette.  As the eye travels towards the back and berm, we added a bit more diversity to try to maximize time with blooming plants, balancing that by keeping the number of different species lower.

And, as much as possible she wanted to include lots of edible and food producing plants.  We mentioned this fun project earlier!

We do have a fair amount of smaller native plants with edible fruit such as serviceberry and gooseberries, so we used two of each!  Although not in this project elderberry, paw paw and hazelnuts would be good native options too.  We also included strawberries, asparagus and some herbs.

We were sold out of strawberries, thanks to Iowa Backyard Farmer for these!

A rain barrel was also on the project wish list, too.  She chose a barrel that she found online, which matched the house well, but was a little different for us to install.

The overflow was directed down the front and the online reviews didn't make me feel confident we could drill into the side without damaging it.

We removed the existing downspout extension, to make mowing easier, and buried a drain tile in its place with a popup.

Before installing the stand and stabilizing rock, I ended up putting in a perforated tile under the overflow.  This was connected to the downspout tile we buried.  

I used larger river rock there, to hide that pipe, and also allow the overflow water in where it was directed into to the downspout tile and popup.

While I worked on the rain barrel, the guys started burying the downspouts and excavating for the catchment basin and berm.

Once the basin was dug, the amended soil was added, and inlet/outlets were armored.  The plants were put in, watered well and mulched.

For the final reveal and walk through, her sister was visiting and invited along.  They shared some family stories, and both agreed that they "absolutely love it!"

Since the strawberries are everbearing, and were already growing well, they have produced enough for a treat every few days! 🍓🍓🍓

ISWEP 2024 Private Organization of the Year Award

PRESS RELEASE - The Iowa Stormwater Education Partnership (ISWEP) is pleased to announce their 2024 award recipients.  On September 10, 2024 awards were presented at the Iowa Water Conference in Coralville, Iowa.  

Jeff Reiland of Abundant Design in the Des Moines area accepted the Urban Stormwater and Watershed Protection Private Organization of the Year Award.   This award recognizes the leadership provided by Abundant Design for the design and installation of green infrastructure including Drake University and Easter Lake Watershed projects.   Practices that were installed included bioretention cells, bioswales, and rain gardens.  They are commended for their commitment to improving local water quality.

The City of Grinnell, represented by Daniel Ramos, Jan Anderson, and Greg Roth of Veenstra and Kimm accepted the Urban Stormwater and Watershed Protection Jurisdiction of the Year Award.  This award recognizes the City of Grinnell for the Arbor Lake and English River-Dug Out Creek watershed projects that included permeable pavement, native landscaping, a bioswale, and stream restoration.  They are commended on their partnership effort with Iowa DNR, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Grinnell School District, and RC Properties and their commitment to improving local water quality and flood management.

John Swanson of Polk County accepted the Urban Stormwater and Watershed Protection Partner of the Year Award.  This award recognizes John Swanson and Polk County for the Fourmile Creek Public-Private Wetland Project. Four Mile Creek is an important watershed for Polk County and improving water quality while reducing flooding potential is a priority. Aside from the significant improvements in water quality entering Four Mile Creek resulting from the installation of a wetland, what is unique about this project is the public-private partnership between Eychaner Properties, Polk County, and the City of Ankeny. Polk County funded the design and construction of the project through a combination of grants from IDALS, the Iowa Finance Authority, and ARPA funds.

Greg Pierce of RDG Planning and Design in Des Moines accepted the Stormwater Advocacy Award for providing outstanding advocacy and technical guidance on state stormwater legislation.  He is recognized for his steadfast dedication in creating and promoting effective statewide stormwater design guidance.  This carries through to his passion for protecting and improving Iowa’s water resources. Greg provides great leadership in updates to the Iowa Stormwater Management Manual.  We appreciate his dedication to advancing stormwater design in Iowa.  His tireless leadership that was provided during the past two years during the Iowa legislative session is greatly appreciated.  

Pictures of award presentations by Pat Sauer and Loulou Dickey of the Iowa Storm Water Education Partnership -

Abundant Design - Jeff Reiland
Urban Stormwater and Watershed Protection Private Organization of the Year

City of Grinnell - Daniel Ramos, Jan Anderson, and Greg Roth
Urban Stormwater and Watershed Protection Jurisdiction of the Year

Polk County - John Swanson
Urban Stormwater and Watershed Protection Partner of the Year

Greg Pierce of RDG Planning and Design
Stormwater Advocacy Award

More pictures from the 2024 Iowa Water Conference (here)

Thank you Iowa Storm Water Education Partnership for this recognition and thank you to all our great customers for letting us create your beautiful and functional landscapes!

Easter Lake Rain Campaign Video

Here's a fun video we helped make with the Rain Campaign to showcase rain gardens as a Stormwater Best Management Practice.  Their videos help encourage homeowners to consider rain gardens and other best management practices to help with stormwater runoff mitigation and to help them with potential problems in their own yards - erosion, soggy areas, etc.

We had already been working with the homeowners in conjunction with the Easter Lake Watershed coordinator to help them with their yard issues and reduce the storm surge into the lake.  The following pictures show the flooding and poor drainage they were dealing with in their yard.  You can also see Easter Lake behind the trees and shrubs.

Their pipe was a short-term fix, and definitely not their favorite.

Watch the video here, with project photos following.

Rain Gardens (youtube.com)

The laser level helps us get the grading just right

Berms constructed, amended soil blend added

Mulching the fresh planting helps retain soil moisture and will feed the soil as it breaks down.  The basins are mulched lightly to prevent smothering of young plants when the basin fills and empties.

 

After photos of the dry stream which collects and moves rainwater from the downspouts to the basin.

The basin captures and infiltrates the first 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" of any rain event.  90% of historical rains for our area are under this amount. If we get more rain than that, the excess will be slowed and filtered through the native plants, and slowly go over the armored overflow.

Rain Garden - After

This picture is from the second year, and you can see the plant growth, adaptation and personal touches.  We designed the planting to be shade tolerant initially, yet take advantage of the future sunshine too - the park was planning restoration of the native savannah surrounding the lake.  Lots fewer, but quality tree species.

This year (year 3) we were doing another project nearby and were invited to come check it out.  After 2 years you can see continued adaptation and growth (although earlier in the season), and we happened to catch it filled with rain.

Stay tuned for more videos!

Back-to-Back Edible Rain Garden Installs

Earlier this season we had been joking that even though we were busy, we hadn't done a single rain garden installation yet.  We had done some revamping of a couple older ones, an edible landscape for a commercial project, several large native plantings and a homestead orchard.

Little did we know that we would do two back-to-back rain garden installs, that also wanted to include as many food producing plants as possible!

This first project in Clive was the first to use their newly retooled cost share program (link).

The other was in Des Moines, and after a little time to think it through, they decided to go for it!

More details on these projects are coming up, but I was excited to share the combination of stormwater, natives and edible plants and trees!

Where does the rain go?

With the showers we've been getting, you may be wondering...

"Where does all this rain go?"

This quick video shows you!

Here is a fun online tool that lets you track a raindrop from your neighborhood, or any neighborhood, all the way to the Gulf of Mexico-

River Runner

At Abundant Design, we can help you design and install Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) and even walk you through potential rebate opportunities!

Contact Us for Rain Gardens, Native Plantings, SQR and More!

Native Planting in Adel

Soil Quality Restoration in Highland Park

Secluded Woodland Oasis & Gardens

After their new addition was built, these Urbandale homeowners saw it as their chance to include some new outdoor elements they wanted instead of just repairing the construction damage.

Patio, bench wall, garden beds and stream behind

It included a patio with bench walls and a firepit, vegetable and herb gardens.  A dry stream directs stormwater runoff to a pair of rain gardens.

Upper rain garden basin ready for planting

Bridge set over the rain garden outlet
to access the existing woodland paths

In the production area, herb beds run along the access path at ground level and are just at the edge of the available sunshine.  The raised vegetable beds benefit from being a bit farther away from the house's shadow, and being elevated helps to get more sun on them too.  Trellises were also added for some vertical growing space.  

The block used on these beds is durable, looks great
and compliments the patio and bench walls!

The garden beds were going in near an existing Hackberry tree and I was concerned about tree roots invading and stealing water and nutrients from them.  

See how we addressed the Tree Root issue HERE!

A Rain Barrel catches rain for use in the gardens

The rain barrel overflows into the downspout drain that connects to the lower rain garden basin behind the raised beds.  Shade loving plants were predominantly used throughout the rain garden plantings - columbine, woodland phlox, sedges and wild geranium.  A few pockets got more sun, so we could try for some more color using part sun and native savannah plants - cardinal flower and bee balm.

Thanks to Beemer Landscaping on the hardscaping assist!

We also cut and removed lots of invasive honeysuckle filling several dump trailers worth.

Reusing saved materials was high on the list of customer desires.  The patio stone was selected to match pavers leftover from a previous landscaping project.  These existing pavers were incorporated into the access path to the side yard, gardens and rain barrel.

Leftover pavers and stone from a previous
project we used for edging and steppers

Several pallets of assorted limestone served as edging along the access path above, and a walking path expansion loop through the side yard along a new planting bed and retaining wall.

Dark trap rock contrasts well against pale limestone,
but it's dusty!

The construction access was cleared of wood chips last fall.  After the temporary driveway was used for a needed tree removal, it was dormant seeded this Winter with a customized woodland sedge and wildflower mix.  Timing was perfect with 4" of snow falling that night.

We love how it has turned out so far, and excited for fresh growth and blooms this season!