1. Rain Garden Project (in-process) Environmental Studies Class La Center H.S. 2012/2013

2. 2012/2013 Env. Studies Class ESC at Water Monitoring Network’s Watershed Congress

3. The Rain Garden Project is an addition to the Environmental Studies Class Garden at La Center High School in La Center, Washington.

4. Over the past four years, the Environmental Studies Class has acquired funding, constructed and maintained a garden that is now in excess of 4,000 square feet.

5. The Environmental Studies Garden surrounds the class’s portable classroom facility on three sides with: an ornamental, edible, native and now --- a rain garden with a rain barrel - water conservation system.

6. At the beginning of the 2012/2013 School Year, the Environmental Studies Class was introduced to the concept of sustainability. We researched watersheds and ways that people could more positively interact with their natural environment.

7. We discussed possible additions to our Environmental Studies Class Garden and learned about water conservation in landscape design. Meanwhile, we were also learning about water quality and watersheds through streamside water monitoring.

8. A decision was made to turn the area we built a fence around- during last year’s summer school class- into a rain garden. We have now surrounded three sides of our classroom with sustainably designed gardens.

9. We researched rain gardens and learned more about rain barrels. A plan was made to add a rain barrel system that could also be used as a water conservation learning station within our sustainably-focused garden.

10. Once all research was done, presentations were made to gain approval to proceed with our plan, and other class projects put to rest, we got to work constructing our rain garden.

11. The first thing to be resolved - What to do for the base layer of our rain garden?

12. When constructing the other three sections (edible, ornamental and native) of the Environmental Studies Garden, we covered each with weed- blocking fabric and spread walkways with donated wood mulch. We chose to do the same in our new rain garden.

13. Our garden before adding a rain garden

14. Our garden before adding a rain garden--- another view

15. 4 in. deep x 900 sq. ft. of compacted clay-soil with grass and various weeds was removed as a method to decrease the growth of maintenance-needy grass in the new rain garden.

16. Rather than use a tractor or herbicide to remove the grass and roots, we used shovels and student labor. Twelve yards were taken by students’ using wheelbarrows to the other side of our high school campus to use as LCSD fill or trucked home to use as fill dirt on their property.

17. Sod removal- Getting started

18. Sod removal- day #1

19. Sod removal- making progress

20. As we learned more about sustainable gardening practices, we chose to use recycled newspapers instead of expensive weed-blocking landscape cloth.

21. After sod was removed, weed-blocking newspaper was applied

22. Another view- More newspapers to block weeds

23. Using mulch acquired from the City of La Center (a by-product of the city clean up day), students wheel-barrowed and spread eight yards of tree-debris mulch over recycled newspapers as a sustainable weed preventative.

24. Mulched

25. Another view

26. Some of us at our garden harbor

27. On June 18 th, the Summer Projects Class began. The SPC took up where the ’12/’13 Env. Studies Class left off.

28. 2013 Summer Projects Class

29. Our first step was to build two platforms and connect four rain barrels to the classroom’s gutters.

30. Building the rain barrel platforms --- It’s gotta be level

31. Building the rain barrel platforms --- first one almost done

32. Rain barrel platforms --- finished

33. Simultaneously, others in the class dug the overflow water collection basin and removed more compacted clay soil.

34. Water collection basin takes shape In the next slide, the pink circle indicates the portion of zone #2, The smaller blue circle indicates zone#3. Due to a high level of clay in our soil, resulting in a low percolation rate, our collection basin has been dug deeper than the customary 2 feet. (Ours is 4 ft. and amended with a combination of pea gravel, small river rock and sand to assist in drainage.)

35. Water Collection basin takes shape *Please note that the pink area extends beyond the scope shown in the picture

36. Rain Garden “Zones” explained Many gardens are in a bean shape, but by no means is this a requirement of a rain garden. The size for a rain garden is based upon the area of water that is draining into it, i.e. If the area draining into the garden (Zone 1) is 900sq.ft., the garden (Zone 2) should be approx. 90 sq.ft and the water collection basin (Zone 3) should be about 9 sq.ft, with a 45°slant to measure approx. 2 ft. deep at its base. Zone 3 *Zonal proportions not accurately represented on diagram Zone 1 Zone 2

37. Rain Garden’s Zone 2 --- taking shape

38. We next connected the rain barrels to the gutters and connected an overflow pipeline to divert the excess water to the water collection basin portion (Zone 3) of the rain garden.

39. Installing the rain barrel system

40. Installing the rain barrel system --- another view

41. Connecting the outflow pipeline

42. Overflow to rain garden

43. Rain Barrel System --- beginning of outflow

44. Due to the end of summer school and the need to seek further input from our district’s maintenance supervisor regarding preferred methods for routing overflow water into the stormwater system, we temporary filled the collection basin (zone#3) with river rock. This was done to reduce possible injuries of people, pets and deer until school resumes in the fall.

45. Summer Phase of Rain Garden Project- last day

46. Our goal Our goal was to have the rain barrels installed, the water run-off > collection > diversion to storm drain system constructed and foundation plants to be in place by the last day of Summer Projects Class on July 24 th.

47. Outcome With the exception of not planting native plants into our rain garden (due to the summer heat leading to greater transplant shock) and routing the rain garden overflow into the storm drain system, we feel successful in the work completed through the Summer Projects Class.

48. Rain Garden --- Zones 1, 2, and 3 3 1 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1

49. Summer Phase of ESC Rain Garden Project – Zone 2 angled to water collection basin of Zone 3 with sand, pea gravel, river rock in place. Rain Barrels connected to gutters and pipeline installed to direct overflow water to Zone 3 of rain garden

50. What’s next? The next phase the Environmental Studies Rain Garden, will be to dig a shallow trench and set drainage rock to shape a (run-off) culvert that directs water from the water collection/ filtration basin (zone #3) back to the gutter downspout system that drains into the storm water drain.

51. Following the routing of overflow to the storm drain system, once the summer heat subsides, we will begin out initial planting of the outer zones of the rain garden surrounding the water collection basin.

52. SuppliesQuantityPriceCost Pier blocks12$6.40$76.80 Pressure treated 4" x 4" (10' )5$21.97$109.85 Pressure treated 2" x 4" (10' )3$7.17$21.51 3 1/2" galvanized wood screws (1 lb. box)1$9.37 Pressure treated 2" x 6" (12' )3$14.17$42.51 3 1/2" galvanized wood screws (5 lb. box)1$29.98 Pressure treated 2" x 6" (12' )3$11.17$33.51 Pressure treated 2" x 4" (8' )5$5.67$28.35 Flex elbow for downspout (2"x3")4$2.39$9.56 Steel downspout (10'L)2$13.64$27.28 Plumber's seal tape1$0.97 Gutter sealant (1oz.)1$3.98 4" Round drain grate1$2.07 Cost Sheet Pt. #1 of 3 Subtotal 1 $395.74

53. Cost Sheet Pt. #2 of 3 SuppliesQntyPriceCost Basin mack gasket- (2"x1 1/4"x3/8")4$1.27$5.08 Drain grate (4” black square)4$2.30$9.20 Hose bib (3/4" no kink faucet)2$7.27$14.54 HDPE 1" X100' (100 ft. roll)1$27.94 Retractable utility knife and blades1$1.98 Poly insert elbow (to connect piping)2$1.66$3.32 Pipe Strap (1"galv. 4pk>for bracing pipeline to platform) 1$1.54 T- Joints (1"-- HDPE)2$0.94$1.88 Drill bits tips (9/64")1$1.97 Drill bits power tips (#2x 2 x9/64")1$0.67 Drill insert bit tips (#2x 2")2$0.47$0.94 Sub total 2$69.06 Sub total 1$395.74 Running total $464.80

54. Cost Sheet SuppliesQuantityPriceCost Pea Gravel (1 yard) 1$36.00 Sand (unfiltered river sand - ½ yard).5$23.00$11.50 3-way compost soil (1 yard) 1$24.00 Drainage (1/2 yard) 5$36.00$18.00 Plants- Gift card (Bird’s Nursery) *To be individually planted in cooler purchased and weather $50.00 Plants- Gift card (Home Depot) *To be individually planted in cooler purchased and weather $25.00 Subtotal 1 $395.74 Subtotal 3 $164.50 Pt. #3 of 3 Subtotal 2 $69.06 Total$629.30 Tax [at 8.4%] $52.86 Grand Total $682.16

55. Rain Garden Project --- as of July 24 th, 2013

56. We thank the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association for granting us $616. This funding has enabled us to construct our rain garden which will lead to conserving more water when caring for We thank the Pacific Northwest Clean Water Association for granting us $616. This funding has enabled us to construct our rain garden which will lead to conserving more water when caring for the other sections of our garden and designing a learning station to teach others about water conservation and watersheds. the other sections of our garden and designing a learning station to teach others about water conservation and watersheds. Gratefully, Gratefully, Environmental Studies at La Center H.S. Environmental Studies at La Center H.S.

57. . Additional thanks to:  Washington State University-Vancouver/ Clark County Extension – Watershed Stewardship Program [Jennifer Naas – program coordinator]  City of Vancouver’s Water Resource Education Center [Judy Bufford – water monitoring instructor]  Clark County Environmental Services [Master Composter Program [Toree Hiebert – MC/R Jr. instructor]  City of La Center – Public Works Department  City of La Center – Wastewater Treatment Facility [Sue Lawrence - Wastewater Treatment Specialist]