Rural Water - Quarter 3, 2008 - (Page 55)

Native plants can be used in residential yards, corporate settings, and in natural areas or buffers in place of turf. They beautify the landscape, save money and provide water quality benefits. Urban BMPs to protect Iowa’s water quality The urban landscape is partially covered with impervious surfaces such as roadways, parking lots, rooftops and compacted soils. Pollutants accumulate on impervious and compacted urban surfaces between rainfall events. Rains wash pollutants directly into rivers and lakes through storm drains without treatment. These pollutants negatively impact aquatic life and our waterways. As communities grow, they often experience more storm water runoff problems. Adding impervious areas decreases the amount of rainwater that can naturally infiltrate into the soil. This increases the amount and speed of storm water runoff. In most urban landscapes impervious surfaces discharge runoff into the storm drain system. One approach to water quality protection is to eliminate directly connected impervious areas and route runoff onto pervious surfaces. Many best management practices (BMPs) can infiltrate runoff from small rainfall events on-site. The BMPs are similar to practices used in agricultural areas to protect natural resources. Rain gardens and bioretention areas are the workhorses of infiltration-based storm water management. Bioretention involves the design of sites with landscaped areas to create storage for runoff. Runoff from parking lots, streets, or rooftops is directed to these shallow depressions where it is infiltrated. Bioswales are vegetated drainage ways that provide conveyance and treatment of runoff. Bioswales infiltrate runoff from small rains and provide vegetative filtering of runoff from large storms. Developments that maintain and utilize the “green infrastructure” of natural drainage ways can often reduce the cost of installing storm sewers and also provide water quality benefits. Soil quality restoration is an important water storage and infiltration-based practice. Restoration involves deep tillage to reduce compaction and re-create pore space. Amend soils with compost increase organic matter content. Landscapes with good soil quality have the ability to absorb, infiltrate, and store water. Native landscaping is beautiful and can be used strategically to help restore and maintain soil quality. The deep root system of native prairie plants increase organic matter content and help increase pore space in the soil profile. Rain gardens accept runoff from rooftops or pavement surfaces, providing water quality benefits by removing the first flush of polluted runoff from storm water. Funding sources The Resource Enhancement and Protection Fund (REAP), is a program in the state of Iowa that invests in, as its name implies, the enhancement and protection of the state’s natural and cultural resources. REAP provides money for projects through state agency budgets or in the form of grants. Several aspects of REAP also encourage private contributions that help accomplish program objectives. Twenty percent of REAP can pay for projects that enhance soil and water quality, and through this fund, storm water projects can be funded with assistance of the county Soil and Water Conservation District. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources also announced recently that there is a new loan program to help Iowans install urban storm water practices. There is a new addition to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which provides low-interest loans to help Iowans improve urban storm water quality. Storm Water Best Management Practice Loans, with an interest rate of 3 percent or less, start at $5,000 and can fund up to 100 percent of costs for up to 20 years. To apply, contact your local Soil and Water Conservation District at any time. Financing for private borrowers is available through participating local lenders. If you have questions about these program listed above, it is always a good idea to visit with your state Soil and Water Conservation District and USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service for technical assistance. Infiltration areas vegetated drainage ways that provide conveyance and treatment of runoff, and uses the plants to stop sediment and trap chemicals. Resources URBAN: Thank you Jennifer Welch for providing the majority of information included in this article. www.urbanwaterquality.org. IDNR Grant and Loans: www.iowadnr.gov/water/ watershed/stormwater.html. Third Quarter 2008 • 55 http://www.urbanwaterquality.org http://www.iowadnr.gov/water/watershed/stormwater.html http://www.iowadnr.gov/water/watershed/stormwater.html

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Rural Water - Quarter 3, 2008

Rural Water - Quarter 3, 2008 Contents From the President From Hypo to Gas - A Forward Leap If You Lose All Your Data Today... Would You Still Be in Business Tomorrow? Weaving the Wireless Web Rural Water and the Farm Bill Ensuring Your Water System's Security Guarding Against Becoming a Victim of Fraud 10 Ways to Improve Utility Efficiency New Technology Making a Difference By Being Involved Regulatory Update Source Water Protection Corner Throwing My Loop Cub Scouts Visit Alliance of Indiana Rural Water's Spring Conference Advertisers.com Index to Advertisers From the CEO

Rural Water - Quarter 3, 2008

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