Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center Demonstration Rain Gardens

Overview

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Two Rain Gardens at this location! One was installed Spring 2007 and the other was Summer 2008.

History:

The Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center rain gardens were installed as part of the Stormwater Management in Your Backyard program that trained Master Gardeners of Cumberland County and Gloucetser Counties. A two-part, six-hour lecture was was conducted by Dr. Christopher Obropta and Gregory Rusciano to train Master Gardeners about stormwater management and rain garden design. After the classroom sessions, the training involved a hands-on component. Master Gardeners assisted Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program staff with the installation of a demonstration rain garden. As a result of this training, they took on the challenge of installing an additional rain garden the following summer.

Type of Runoff Managed:

These rain gardens manage stormwater from the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center Education and Event Center building. There are no gutters or downspouts on this building. Therefore, erosion of soil and mulch resulted, causing a maintenance issue for the adjacent walkway.

Installation:

Approximately twenty Master Gardeners of Cumberland and Gloucester Counties were present for the installation of the rain garden in the Spring of 2007, and approximately ten Master Gardeners of Cumberland County were present for the installation of the rain garden in the Summer of 2008. These rain gardens were approved by Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center and the Cumberland County Improvement Authority. The mulch and stone for these rain gardens was donated by Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center and the native plants that were installed were donated by Pinelands Nursery & Supply. In the absence of gutters, shallow trenches were used to direct water along the roof dripline into the rain gardens. The trenches were lined with stone to prevent erosion.

Plant List:

Spring 2007 Rain Garden:

Arrowwood Viburnum
Blue Lobelia
Soft Rush
Virginia Sweetspire
Winterberry Holly

Summer 2008 Rain Garden:

Blue Flag Iris
Garden Phlox
Joe Pye Weed
Red Chokeberry
Summersweet/Sweet Pepperbush
Virginia Sweetspire

Maintenance:

These rain gardens are maintained by the Master Gardeners of Cumberland County.

Watershed-Based Economy Mapping
updated 11/2011 by rutgers.water.resources.program