CitiesGoGreen - December 2008 - (Page 15)

drainage over time. Native plants, especially those that grow in the prairies, have deep roots that allow water to infiltrate the tough Kansas City area clay soils faster. These plants are well adapted to our local climate A fund is being established to help and soils, tolerate our wet springs and hot, dry summers. They also slough or nonprofits and other worthy groups lose a third of their root mass yearly, creating small root channels into the purchase rain garden plants on soil that promote infiltration. a budget. The 10,000 Rain Gardens initiative is managed by the Water Services “First and foremost, don’t be intimidat- Department of Kansas City, MO. ed looking for plants specifically labeled Lynn Hinkle founded ASTRA Communicafor rain gardens,” said Dods. There are lots tions, Inc. based in Kansas City, Missouri, of plants that might work; just keep some which specializes in public involvement of these hints in mind: and strategic initiatives for major cli• A rain garden is not intended to be ents and governments. Lynn recently a wetland or a water garden with launched a website featuring green inpermanent water. A rain garden is novation videos, including the 10,000 supposed to infiltrate the water in approximately one day. If you do that, Rain Gardens initiative, which was created by ASTRA, at you don’t breed mosquitoes and the www.worldgoingreen.com number of plants that will flourish is much larger. • Native prairie species tend to be Add your comments and ideas at CitiesGoGreen.com more tolerant for a rain garden and provide long-term and improved Rain garden and native plant expert and environmental engineer David Dods has suggestions about plants and plant selection for rain gardens in the prairie states. Rain Garden Resources 10,000 Rain Gardens: www.RainKC.com digital edition resources Do rain gardens work? • According to a comparative study cited by the EPA, yes. See barr.com (search “Burnsville”). Brief (2 pg pdf ) or full version (18 pg pdf ). Manuals • Based on building 350 rain gardens over 8 years: Implementing Rainwater Gardens in Urban Stormwater Management: Lessons Learned from the City of Maplewood (MN) (55 pg pdf ) • From the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District (20 pg pdf ) Related articles (search “10,000 Rain Gardens”) • USmayors.org • Worldchanging.com Webcast • A two hour EPA webcast with the author, December 3, 2008 (archives available) Implementing Green Initiatives? Save Energy Save Money Save Water Use Pratt Valves Our extensive product line means that you will find the exact valve for your project. From custom valves to stock valves and accessories, Pratt has valves that will save energy, save money, and save water. Save energy by using our Ball valves that offer high Cv values and essentially no head loss. Save money by using our line of valves that minimize lifetime labor and material O&M costs. Save water by using our line of Butterfly valves that offer bubble-tight closure. Everything you need to help you stay compliant with your green initiatives. Need more information or technical consultation about a specific project? Call toll-free or go to our website. Henry Pratt Company 401 S. Highland Avenue Aurora, IL 60506-5563 USA 1-877-436-7977 www.henrypratt.com December 2008 15 http://www.RainKC.com http://www.barr.com http://www.barr.com/PDFs/Papers/Burnsville_results_flyer.pdf http://www.barr.com/PDFs/Papers/Burnsville_results_flyer.pdf http://www.barr.com/PDFs/Papers/Burnsville%20Stormwater%20Retrofit%20Study%20Final%20Report.PDF http://ci.maplewood.mn.us/vertical/Sites/%7BEBA07AA7-C8D5-43B1-A708-6F4C7A8CC374%7D/uploads/%7B85050727-4FBE-46A1-B29D-D12748E33B83%7D.PDF http://www.cuyahogaswcd.org/grantfunded-raingardens-projects.htm http://www.worldgoingreen.com http://www.usmayors.org/usmayornewspaper/documents/01_22_07/pg16_kansas_city.asp http://www.worldchanging.com/archives//004824.html http://citiesgogreen.com/issues/december-2008/features/10000-rain-gardens-in-kansas-city http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademy/webcasts/ http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/wacademy/webcasts/ http://www.henrypratt.com http://www.henrypratt.com http://citiesgogreen.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of CitiesGoGreen - December 2008

Citites Go Green Contents In Motion We’re Taking Steps 10,000 Rain Gardens in Kansas City Chicago Center for Green Technology Connecticut’s ‘One Thing’ Green Infrastructure for Stormwater Management Philadelphia The Economics of What Matters New Context: New Possibility

CitiesGoGreen - December 2008

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