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. . . INGERSON PROJECT REVIEW GROUP RECOMMENDATIONS Rain gardens are not only aesthetically pleasing but "they manage storm water inexpensively and build urban ecological health.',47,48 Utilization of rain gardens is not only beneficial from a stormwater management and water quality perspective but from a cost effective and efficient standpoint as well as an aesthetic standpoint. Rain gardens have been installed and utilized in a number of locations in the United States and a number oflocations within the Twin Cities. In the Twin Cities, the "leader" in utilizing rain gardens is the City of Maple wood. Maplewood's first rain garden project was constmcted in 1996/1997. The year after constmction, the Twin Cities experienced a 100 year rainfall. Even with the incredible amount of rain that fell, there was only a little puddle of water in the area and there was not any standing water on the roadway.49 Since constmction of its first rain garden project, Maplewood has completed its second rain garden project and started it third rain garden project in the summer 01'2000. Maplewood has found that street improvement projects that incorporate rain gardens tend to cost only 65-75% of the cost of "conventional" street improvement projects. The Rice Creek Watershed District is a proponent of the utilization of rain gardens for stormwater management and water quality. Derek Knapp, P.E., Montgomery Watson, Consulting Engineering Finn for the Rice Creek Watershed District, believes that the Ingerson neighborhood is amenable to alternative methods such as rain gardens.5o Greg Brown has presented preliminary plans/drawings identifYing the areas within the Ingerson Project where he believes rain gardens could be utilized. Rain gardens are installed in the City's existing right-of-way land and, therefore, there is no need to redefine easement rights. Although it is desirable to have as many rain gardens as possible to foster better water infiltration, it is not necessary to install rain gardens on every residential lot. 51 Derek Knapp believes that a rain garden in the front of every 3'd home equates to two (2) National Urban Runoff Program ponds.52 According to Greg Brown, an issue that he feels needs to be addressed is the location and depth of any utility line/pipe. Greg Brown believes that certain portions of the utility lines/pipes may need to be insulated or relocated ifrain gardens are installed. It should be noted that because these utility lines/pipes are currently believed to be near the existing roadway, it would probably 47Id. 48 Decrease in traffic speed may be another benefit of rain gardens. The MN Local Road Research Board determined that "landscape plantings are thought to cause the average driver to pay closer attention to his or her sllTfoundings. If drivers have more to focus on, they will tend to slow down." Effective Traffic Calmine. supra. 49 May 2, 2000 Review Group Meeting. so April 4, 2000 Review Group Meeting. S! May 2, 2000 Review Group Meeting. 52 April 4, 2000 Review Group Meeting. 19 August 17, 2000