What are Rain Gardens?

A rain garden, also called a bioretention facility, is a garden or patch of land that is planted with native shrubs, plants, and flowers that is designed to catch and soak up rainwater before it enters the area that the rain garden is intended to protect. Rain gardens help to prevent soil erosion and pollution, among other things, and introduce native plants and shrubs to the area as well.

Why at the SAP?

The SAP currently experiences water runoff from the neighboring farm and Luce Street. This runoff can bring harmful pesticides and fertilizers from the farm, and sediments and other chemicals from the road. Even without pesticides, fertilizers, and sediments, excess water can prove fatal to crops and there is currently no system to prevent this.

Our Solution

Our second prototype emphasizes the importance of planting rain gardens in areas where runoff is the most prominent. These areas include the small ditch adjacent to Luce Street, two areas near the gardens, and the majority of the north end of the SAP that borders the farm. These areas have been identified as the areas that are currently the most susceptible to hazards and pollutants caused by runoff and flooding