NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — The Water Resources Program worked with its partners to install over 50 rain gardens in 2020, while following social distancing guidelines, as part of their 50 Rain Gardens for the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day Initiative. This month they are highlighting rain gardens #12 & #13, #14 & #15, #37, and #38.
East Brunswick Elks Lodge – #12 & #13 – 21B Oakmont Avenue, East Brunswick, NJ
The Water Resources Program was awarded a 319(h) grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to design and implement green infrastructure projects in the Raritan River watershed. Two rain gardens were installed with this funding at the East Brunswick Elks Lodge on June 30, 2020. The Water Resources Program designed the rain gardens, and Wogisch Landscape Contractors Inc. excavated the rain garden areas, added bioretention media, spread mulch, and installed the plants. The managed drainage area for the two rain gardens is 2,280 square feet. The rain gardens are 315 square feet and 175 square feet in size and are filled with native plants that will attract pollinators and provide wildlife habitat. The rain gardens will capture, treat, and infiltrate approximately 38,450 gallons of stormwater runoff per year.
Metuchen High School – #14 & #15 – 400 Grove Avenue, Metuchen, NJ
The Water Resources Program was awarded a 319(h) grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to design and implement green infrastructure projects in the Raritan River watershed. Funds from the grant were used to install two rain gardens at Metuchen High School that were completed on July 2, 2020. Wogisch Landscape Contractors, Inc. excavated the rain gardens, added bioretention media, spread a three-inch layer of mulch, and installed the plants. The managed drainage area for the two rain gardens is 4,677 square feet. One rain garden is 550 square feet, and the other is 336 square feet. They will serve as demonstration projects to residents of how to incorporate green infrastructure on their property. Most importantly the rain gardens will be used as educational tools for teachers to include in lesson plans. The rain gardens will capture, treat, and infiltrate approximately 81,260 gallons of stormwater runoff per year.
Quaker Friends Village – #37 – 1 Friends Drive, Woodstown Borough, NJ
The Water Resources Program completed an impervious cover assessment of Woodstown and developed a green infrastructure action plan that identified Quaker Friends Village as a potential site to install green infrastructure. Funding for the reports and this project was provided by the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) and the William Penn Foundation to address stormwater runoff and water quality issues of the Kirkwood‐Cohansey aquifer. The rain garden installation was completed on September 23, 2020 with Davis Lawns and Landscaping handling the excavation alongside staff from the Water Resources Program. The managed drainage area for the rain garden is 2,835 square feet. Measuring 475 square feet in size, the rain garden will capture, treat, and infiltrate approximately 50,830 gallons of stormwater runoff per year while providing habitat for pollinators.
Pittsgrove Board of Education – #38 – 1082 Almond Road, Pittsgrove Township, NJ
The Water Resources Program completed an impervious cover assessment and reduction action plan of Pittsgrove Township with funding from a grant awarded by the William Penn Foundation. The Pittsgrove Board of Education rain garden and bioswale installations were completed on September 26, 2020 with excavation assistance provided by Davis Lawns and Landscapes. The fine sculpting of the rain garden and bioswale as well as mulching and planting was made possible by the combined labor efforts of the South Jersey Land and Water Trust and the RCE Water Resources Program staff. The managed drainage area for the rain garden is 2,440 square feet, while the drainage area filtered by the bioswale is 15,600 square feet. The rain garden is 520 square feet and will capture, treat, and infiltrate approximately 22,740 gallons of stormwater runoff per year.
The bioswale is approximately 775 square feet and will filter an estimated 319,690 gallons of runoff annually.
–Rutgers University
