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Loty-Impact F3evelop~neni continued from page 2
<br />frc;m other diffuse sources the greatest contaminant threat to
<br />our freshwater resources. The good news is that there are a
<br />number of proven solutions that towns and cities can use to
<br />reduce runoff pollution.
<br />One effective approach has emerged in recent years.
<br />Called "low-impact development," it uses both simple
<br />common sense and technology -strategically placed beds of
<br />native plants, rain barrels, "green roofs," porous surfaces for
<br />parking lots and roads, and other tools - to help rainfall
<br />evaporate back into the atmosphere or soak into the ground,
<br />rather than polluting the nearest water body. In effect, low-
<br />impact development mimics nature's own filtering systems.
<br />The result is Less water pollution from dirty runoff, less
<br />flooding, replenished groundwater supplies -and often,
<br />more natural-looking, aesthetically pleasing cityscapes.
<br />To see how communities across America are cleaning up
<br />their water with low-impact development -and both saving
<br />money and beautifying their environs as they do so -please
<br />visit: http://www.nrdc.org/water/pollution.
<br />Information provided by the Natural Resources Defense
<br />Council.
<br />j ~t4~ ~ ;'~ 4 ~'
<br />~'~ In St. Paul's Upper Swede
<br />Hollo
<br />i
<br />hb
<br />h
<br />d
<br /> w ne
<br />g
<br />or
<br />oo
<br />, this
<br />~ ~ appealing 900-square foot
<br />F garden captures pollutant-
<br />~' _ ` ~
<br />~ laden street runoff that would
<br />-
<br />~,~ ~
<br />3 ~ z ~ ~ otherwise flow into the
<br />,
<br />.~ - k~-
<br />~~ ~~
<br />Mississi i River. Native
<br /> plants in two low-lying areas
<br />remove oil, grease, heavy metals and sediment, so the water that
<br />isn't absorbed by the garden is cleaner once it does reach the river.
<br />rte:
<br />a
<br />~ ~ -
<br />This 3,000-square foot garden
<br />atop Philadelphia's Fencing
<br />Academy absorbs up to a half-
<br />inch of rain, then filters and
<br />slows down the flow of runoff
<br />that does reach the street. The
<br />plants also insulate fhe
<br />building, reducing energy
<br />costs, and protecting the roof
<br />from wear and tear.
<br />The Washington Navy Yard
<br />has replaced sections of
<br />waterproof blacktop with
<br />bricklike tiles, as pictured
<br />above, that allow water to seep
<br />through to the ground below. In
<br />addition, the Navy has added
<br />trees and rows of plants to
<br />several parking lots within its
<br />vast complex to help capture
<br />runoff.
<br />-l The Boulder headquarters of fhe non-profit
<br />_ . _ 4~ ',"}
<br />~` Land and Water Fund of the Rockies
<br /> combines a number of techniques to create
<br />,~; ~~ -__: a "closed loop" landscape, allowing almost
<br />;- ,- -- no runoff to leave the property. Plants in
<br />;~~ ;~ ~
<br />- low-lying areas absorb and fitter runoff, as
<br />' '` ~`" do "rain gardens" situated below drainage
<br />.r.
<br />~' spouts from the roof. In addition, the
<br />=
<br />ti~ ~ .I
<br />parking lot's grading ensures that water
<br />=_~~ drains toward the vegetation and not the
<br />,~, -~° _ ,; - street.
<br />- --~----
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<br />FACETS September 2004
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