Stormwater Runoff: Problems and Solutions
Liz Patterson, Ithaca NY
Tied for 1st Place, Adult Category
In summer when dark storm clouds billow over the southwestern hills
of Cayuga Lake and thunder booms through the valley I am thankful
for the coming rains that will nourish our lawn and gardens. Until
a few years ago these drenching rains also gave me something I wasn’t
so thankful for – a leaky basement. So, I was quite happy
when we finally decided to have rain gutters installed at our house.
The gutters solved the basement problem by directing the rain waters
away from our home’s foundation.
We live on a steep hill so any rain not absorbed into the ground
cascades down the hillside. The runoff makes its way to Six Mile
Creek which flows into Cayuga Lake. Cayuga’s outlet is at
the north end of the lake where the waters join the Seneca River
which is part of the Oswego River Basin. The basin connects to Lake
Ontario, then the St. Lawrence Seaway, and finally the Atlantic
Ocean. It is an amazing hydrological cycle.
Recognizing this ecological path I contemplated the consequences
of just letting the unabsorbed stormwater cascade down the hill.
If problems are caused by this, what are they? And what steps could
I take to prevent these problems?
A quick search on the internet gave me plenty of information about
the problems associated with stormwater runoff. I learned that as
stormwater runoff flows through residential neighborhoods and towns
it collects many things in its path: fertilizers, pesticides, oil,
gas, other automotive fluids, soap, pet waste, de-icing salts, litter,
cigarette butts, even household chemicals. These impurities adversely
impact fish and water wildlife as well as our drinking water systems.
The National Resource Defense Council reports that one quart of
motor oil can spoil 250,000 gallons of drinking water! Fertilizers
cause other problems by accelerating the growth of algae in creeks
and lakes which can deplete nutrients needed by other aquatic plants
and animals.
Not only that, the rushing runoff of stormwater causes stream and
creek bed erosion and disturbs wildlife habitats. The eroded soils,
along with leaves and grass clippings caught in drainage systems,
add to the sediment carried into Cayuga Lake. Heavy sediment causes
another long list of problems, particularly when it is polluted.
This was enough to convince me of the importance of creating a
way of allowing as much stormwater as possible to soak into our
yard (without, of course, having it seep into our basement). Where
my gardening plans in the past focused on deer resistant plants,
bioretention will now be included in my landscape design. Bioretention
gives water time and space to soak into the soil. In this way, plants,
worms and microbes have the opportunity to process the water. Nutrients
can be absorbed, and some pollution can be broken down.
What then are some initial steps that can be taken to incorporate
bioretention into my landscape design?
Probably the best first step is to track where excess water travels
on our property. Once we observe the path of the water we can then
map out where to add some diversions like rain gardens, grassy swales
and retaining banks.
Next, I’ll take some time choosing plants that can survive
being drenched but can also survive dry spells. Our weather in the
Cayuga Lake area tends to follow the very wet to quite dry pattern.
For information on which plants fit this pattern I consulted the
Cornell University Onondaga County Cooperative Extension’s
brochure “A Selection of Plants for Rain Gardens.” The
brochure is beautiful, very informative, and can be found on-line.
Some of the plants that do well in rain gardens and have the deer
resistant qualities I am looking for are: Aster, Astilbe, Bee Balm,
Joe Pye Weed, Coneflower, Geranium, some ornamental grasses, and
ferns.
Additional flowers, bushes, and ground covers are also being added
to the overall design of our yard. I want to reduce the area of
the grass lawn so less mowing is required. With our patchy lawn
I feel that choices other than grass will help reduce erosion. Where
the lawn is mowed, we will leave the grass clippings where they
are cut. This will help recycle nutrients and reduce erosion as
well. Adding mulch to flower beds and the areas around bushes and
trees also helps tremendously in retaining water.
On the side of the house where our vegetable garden grows I plan
to put rain barrels at the downspouts of the gutters. The collected
water will benefit our veggies during those summer dry spells. Many
rain barrels are on the market in various sizes and include special
safety and mosquito-proof features. The styles range from wooden
whiskey barrels to polyethylene kits. Instructions can be found
on-line for how to set up a rain barrel system.
Another step I have done in the past but hope to be more diligent
with in the future is helping to keep the path of municipal storm
drains clear of leaves, sediment, litter and debris. Some of our
new ornamental grasses and ground covers will be planted near the
storm drains to help reduce erosion and catch loose items that could
clog the drainage system.
I can’t wait to see what unfolds with our revised landscaping
ideas. I have a renewed appreciation for the gifts of the rains
and snows now. And I look forward to seeing the results of incorporating
bioretention in our gardening plan. As water, from morning dew drops
to giant lakes, sustains us, so it is also our responsibility to
sustain our precious water resources.
If you would like more information about alternatives to excessive
stormwater runoff check with your local Cooperative Extension, as
well as the recycling and solid waste management programs in your
county. The following organizations also have very informative internet
sites:
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
The Cayuga Lake Watershed Network
Environmental Protection Agency
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Natural Resources Defense Council
Portland Bureau of Environmental Services
and the Sierra Club.
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