New rain gardens filter storm water in PT

Posted

Two new rain gardens were installed on Garfield Street in Port Townsend’s Uptown district just in time to collect and filter storm-water runoff from winter storms.

Rooftops, driveways, streets and other impervious surfaces don’t allow water to soak into the ground. These rain gardens improve water quality by capturing storm-water pollutants from car oil, fertilizers, dog poop and sediments, according to a press release from Washington State University Extension.

Pollutants affect the health of eelgrass, shellfish, salmon and other marine species, so this project, sponsored by the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee, WSU Extension and City of Port Townsend, targets high-priority drainage areas where unfiltered storm-water flows directly into the bay.

The new rain gardens are located within the city right of way along Garfield Street near Adams Street. They were designed by WSU Extension and installed free of charge. The City of Port Townsend contributed advice, permits, compost and drainage materials, and the initial site work. Funding was provided in part by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Puget Sound Partnership through the Jefferson Marine Resources Committee and the Northwest Straits Initiative.

Five members of Sound Experience’s Adventuress crew joined Marine Resources Committee volunteers, Beach Watchers, neighbors and other community volunteers for two days of planting and mulching.

The Adventuress crew was looking for ways to connect student experiences on the schooner with actions they can take at home. Megan Addison, one of the crew members, said, “Our crew is still talking about how much fun they had, and those who couldn’t be there are definitely jealous that they weren’t a part of it!”

Weeding assistance is to be provided by WSU volunteers for the first two years, followed by ongoing maintenance by the adjacent landowners.

Rain gardens are shallow depressions constructed with soil mixes that allow water to soak in rapidly and support healthy plant growth. They can be landscaped with a variety of plants to fit the surroundings. For more information about rain gardens, see

raingarden.wsu.edu.