CHERP Rain Garden

개요

The rain garden is located to behind the south corner of the UMSL south campus parking garage. As a part of the Campus Honors Environmental Research Program, students planted a rain garden in the past few years. The purpose of this rain garden is to help filter the water runoff from the parking garage, slow water runoff during large storms, and also to beautify what used to be a rocky drainage area.

The water from the garage that collects oils and other harmful debris first runs though an oil skimming system that takes off a majority of the harmful oil so it does not run directly into the nearby stream system. The skimmed water then runs out of a pipe and through the soil of the rain garden where the roots of the plants absorb more of the harmful chemicals, preventing the rest of them from running into the stream as well. After the water passes through the soil of the garden it is harmless to the delicate creek ecosystem, it is run though a pipe into the stream where the water continues its natural flow.

The garden also helps to prevent erosion downstream during large storms. By putting plants in a high flow area, the CHERP students were able to reduce the amount, and speed of the water that eventually enters the stream. As a result, the now slow water, does not erode the flood areas and banks of the stream.

This rain garden is really a sight to see when in full bloom.

CHERP - St Vincent Park - UMSL Green Map
updated 04/2012 by NBook