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Rain Gardens
Essex County Environmental Center
621 Eagle Rock Avenue, Roseland, Essex
County, New Jersey 07068
| Google (TM) Map | Site Contact(s) | History | Runoff Managed |
| Installation | Plant Layout | Maintenance | Photographs |
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Site Contact(s):
Jan Zientek, Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Essex County
History:
The Essex County Environmental Center rain garden was installed as part of a rain
garden educational workshop program that trained some Master Gardeners and the general public of Essex County and the surrounding area. The workshop was conducted in two parts: a two-hour classroom session and a half-day installation of the rain garden with guided instruction.
Type of Runoff Managed:
This rain garden manages storm water from the Essex County Environmental Center's rooftop. However, this is not your standard rooftop. It is a greenroof with planter boxes. Runoff from the rooftop is generated only after the planter boxes are beyond their capacity for water. The Environmental Center is built along the floodplain of the Passaic River and provides a great learning oppurtunity for visitors interested in river ecology and recreation. However, the water table is high and , thus, stormwater management is of great concern because of the potential for flooding. A swale and berm were installed after the construction of the building. It allowed stormwater from the property to be conveyed to a nearby wetland. Several downpouts from the roof top discharge into the swale at various points along its length.
Installation:
A portion of the existing swale was retorofitted with a rain garden to
receive water from one of the roof
downspouts. Overflow from the rain garden during larger storm
events will find its way into the existing swale
and be carried into the nearby
wetlands. Approximately
twenty-five participants
from the Essex County area were present for the
installation of the rain garden in
April 2008. Staff from the
Environmental Center, staff
from Rutgers Cooperative Extension and Master
Gardeners assisted with
the installation. Sand was added to the soil
during the rain garden installation,
which was donated by the Essex
County Parks Department. The native plants that were installed were donated by Pinelands Nursery & Supply.
Plant Layout:
Rain Garden Map Coming Soon!
Plant List:
Blue Flag Iris
Blue Lobelia
Inkberry Holly
Marsh Marigold
Red Chokeberry
Sweet Pepperbush/Summersweet
Virginia Sweetspire
Winterberry Holly
Click here to download Adobe Reader to view the rain garden map and the plant list
fact sheets.
Maintenance:
The rain garden is maintained by the Master Gardeners of Essex County.
Photographs:
Click here for photographs of the Essex County Environmental Center rain garden.
