Rain Gardens:A proposal by the Accept the Greener Challenge Club

Accept the Greener Challenge Club

• Created 5 years ago• APES top 10 recommendations• Reduce energy consumption• Solar for heat and energy• Cisterns and rain gardens

• 100 members (15% of student body)

Water Quality in the Ellerbe Watershed

• High levels of nitrogen and phosphorous lead to algae growth• Algae depletes oxygen, killing the wildlife.

The Location of Ellerbe Creek

Impervious surfaces are buildings and gray roads/walkways.

Rain Garden Proposal• Corner of Hunt – catches 25% of water from Hunt roof• 362 ft2 – 6 in deep• Total approximate cost for excavation, mulch, soil amendment

(sand), and plants: $2,170• Partial cost we pay: $543

How Rain Gardens Work• Water collects in rain gardens and is filtered through the soil.• Lessens polluted runoff water that enters waterways.

Meeting Clean Water Requirements

• EPA requirements for the Falls Lake Watershed:• 20% reduction in total nitrogen by 2016 • 40% reduction by 2036.

• Proposed rain garden will remove:• .28 lbs Nitrogen/year, .03 lbs Phosphorous/year

What We’re Asking• Permission• “No Cuts” called by Maintenance• Excavation help from Grounds• Long-term commitment• Funding Options• ~$543 needed for plants• Possible funding to cover what a grant for 25% of total cost does not

Future Goals• Implementation of additional rain gardens • Cisterns on Hunt and PEC• Control storm water runoff at NCSSM• 42,230 gallons of storm water runs off Hunt roof each year• Used to water and fertilize fields

• Creek Remediation• Big Sweep-Ellerbe Creek clean-up• Cool water entering creek from the boiler