Impervious surfaces like roads, buildings, and parking lots create a big challenge in keeping our watersheds healthy. As rainwater runs over these surfaces, it picks up pollutants including petroleum products, fertilizers, animal feces, and pesticides, and deposits them into streams and lakes. If these surfaces were not sealed off by pavement, the rainwater would be allowed to percolate through the soil and recharge the ground water beneath while at the same time being naturally filtered to remove some of the contaminants found at the surface. For these reasons, students are focusing on projects that address runoff related problems.
A group of students from Scituate High School's Environmental Science course are making an effort to control a soil erosion problem discovered in their community. In late October, two asphalt swales were installed to divert storm water off of Rockland Road, but the construction disturbed nearby vegetation, leaving two sections of 20'x50' exposed soil. Grass seed was spread on the areas but the grass did not take root due to the lateness in the season.
The asphalt swales diverted the storm water collected into a small tributary that leads to the Scituate Reservoir. Due to the exposed soil at the sight of the asphalt swales, soil erosion is likely to occur and enter into the tributary. This is a concerned because water entering the tributaries can have a major influence on the overall water quality.
The students have recognized this problem and are currently working to prevent the soil erosion and also prevent the spread of invasive plant species in the area. By securing biodegradable jute paper on the area, the group will be able to cease the erosion occurring and prevent invasive species from taking root. In the spring, the students plan to advance from the temporary relief that the jute paper provides and plant native vegetation.
Collaborators on the project include the Northern Rhode Island Conservation District, Providence Water, Fuss and O?Neil, and the RI DOT, the organization that originally installed the storm water system and has embraced the project. The students involved will be exercising the knowledge they learned in class by identifying the invasive species at the site and working to help correct the impairments to the natural environment.
What is being picked up by rainwater that runs over your property? Help protect the quality of our watershed. Give careful consideration to what you put on your lawn. Clean up after your pets. Check your automobile for leaks. Help us preserve the native biodiversity by identifying and removing invasive species on your property.
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1 comment:
It is good to know that the young ones are already getting some environmental training courses even at that early age. I wish I had some kind of training with environmental issues such as stormwater or rain water, etc. We only had them in college.
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