Trees are a powerful green infrastructure tool due to their ability to capture water on leaves, direct it to the ground on stems, absorb it through root systems, and transpire it as water vapor directly back into the atmosphere. We’ve been steadily planting free trees for District homeowners, businesses, schools, houses of worship, apartment buildings, and more through our residential planting programs.
But trees don’t exist in a vacuum. They are surrounded by plants, streets, buildings, and more. This is why when we design stormwater management solutions for property owners looking to manage rainfall, we often turn to another kind of trusted green infrastructure: Bioretention planters. They are basically stormwater infiltration cells. What does that mean? It’s a landscape system that filters pollutants and sediment from runoff. The layers of plant material, mulch, planting media (a mix of soil, sand, and compost), and stone capture metals, nutrients, and bacteria that flow into the surrounding rivers. The rainwater is held in the planting bed until it infiltrates into the ground or evaporates. Planters can be quite large (like the one described below) or they can fit into small spaces. This makes them adaptable to curb extensions, tree spaces along the road, medians, terraced slopes, and planter boxes – perfect for the smaller yards and property spaces that dominate urban spaces.
RiverSmart Homes, the DOEE program that we’re a part of, provides so much more than shade trees. You too can outfit your space – no matter the size – with any number of the green infrastructure features including Bioretention planters, permeable pavers, green roofs, solar panels, and more. We are proud to say we’re expanding our offerings beyond shade trees as well – we’re now a trusted rain garden installation partner for RiverSmart Homes! This is an exciting addition to the arsenal of programs we offer property owners to beautify their space, mitigate stormwater, and increase canopy and biodiversity.
A great, real-life example of our work with stormwater management, rain gardens, and trees were recently highlighted in citybiz. Check it out:
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Knollwood Life Plan Community Installs New Stormwater Capturing Rain Garden in Partnership with District Stormwater originally published on citybiz
The Knollwood Life Plan Community and District Stormwater LLC – a wholly owned subsidiary of The Nature Conservancy – announced today that construction has been completed on a new rain garden and stormwater capturing green infrastructure bordering the Knollwood parking lot. The new garden and infrastructure will capture an estimated 2.2 million gallons of runoff rainwater annually, to clean it before it reaches Rock Creek, the Potomac River, and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.
“We are elated to be collaborating with District Stormwater, a subsidiary of The Nature Conservancy, as we continue on our mission to preserve the environment,” said COL Paul Bricker, Knollwood COO. “This partnership continues to allow nature to thrive at our doorstep.”
“Billions of gallons of stormwater runoff and sewage flow into local rivers, and ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay, each year,” said Aileen Craig, Stormwater Retention Project Manager for The Nature Conservancy. “Through this project, Knollwood is further minimizing the stormwater pollution that flows into our waterways, and consequently damages water quality and aquatic habitat. Knollwood is demonstrating great leadership in DC through its efforts to improve the surrounding environment and the Chesapeake Bay for future generations.”
Directly adjacent to Rock Creek Park, Knollwood Life Plan Community sits on 16 acres in northwest Washington, DC and is home to 300 residents. The new rain garden is approximately 4,700 square feet in size and captures runoff from 1.6 acres of impervious surface. It includes a variety of native and flowering plants that will provide habitat and food for pollinators, as well as being a new feature for residents and nearby neighbors to enjoy. Knollwood and District Stormwater are also planning to install interpretive signage along a nearby path explaining the project.
The green infrastructure was designed by the engineering firm Tetra Tech and built by Triangle Contracting LLC. The site will be maintained by Knollwood’s existing landscaping company, Ruppert Landscape. In addition, the DC-based nonprofit organization Casey Trees has planted over 50 new trees on site.
The project will also generate Stormwater Retention Credits (SRCs) to be sold on DC’s Stormwater Retention Credit market to real-estate developers who are unable to meet their own stormwater retention requirements on-site. Through its subsidiary District Stormwater LLC, The Nature Conservancy installs stormwater capturing green infrastructure sites around Washington, including a 14.5-acre project at Mount Olivet Cemetery that will soon add 4.9 additional acres through a third phase. Currently available credits can be purchased through the District Stormwater LLC website.
Knollwood plans to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the project this fall. Photos of the new rain garden and stormwater infrastructure can be found here.
Knollwood is a non-profit community for people age 62+, a mixture of officers of the U.S. uniformed services and their eligible family, for whom the community was founded, non-government, non-military people with strong connections to the metro DC area, as well as high-level federal officials from various agencies. Independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing and memory care services are offered at Knollwood. Knollwood is owned and operated by The Army Distaff Foundation, a 501(c)3 established in 1959 to provide housing, health, and wellness services to mature adults who have served our nation. Knollwood provides a compassionate boutique community with exceptional wellness and purposeful living. Adjacent to Rock Creek Park and minutes from fine dining, cultural attractions, and the nation’s premier medical centers, the upper northwest Washington, D.C. location is unbeatable. Residents enjoy vibrant community living with inviting, modern apartment homes, and robust wellness programs to suit all interests.
