Lewis Creek Association (LCA) and the Charlotte Library have partnered to design and implement changes that will improve water quality downstream of the library. In 2016, this area was assessed as part of LCA’s Ahead of the Storm program, which is designed to showcase optimal conservation practices to mitigate stormwater runoff.
A rain garden was built and rain barrels were added where the former driveway was.
At the library, multiple optimal conservation practices were installed to mitigate stormwater runoff at the site. Stormwater historically ran off from the driveway and building and flowed toward Thorp Brook, where water quality sampling has found high nutrient and sediment levels, which affect both the stream’s and Lake Champlain’s water quality. As the library renovation and expansion was planned LCA was able to participate and these concepts were incorporated as part of the site planning process. Volunteers participated in landscape design and planting and will be assisting with ongoing maintenance. In particular, a bio-retention area (“rain garden”) was created on former pavement to reduce impervious surface and increase water storage capacity on-site. Rainbarrels were added to the gutters, to capture roof runoff and to water gardens and flower beds, thereby keeping additional water on site. Some of the areas (sidewalk and end rooftops) simply flow into vegetated areas (“disconnection”) instead of being piped or sent directly to drainage swales. Overall, the project removed a net 0.06 acres of impervious surface, and now provides treatment of 0.14 acres of runoff from the roof before it flows south to Thorp Brook. The combined treatments and disconnection treat more than the required volumes for protecting streams from poor water quality, channel erosion, and scour. LCA and the Charlotte Library look forward to holding a presentation and discussion about the new Ahead of the Storm site later this year.
The library was an ideal site as a highly visible public space that showcases solutions that can easily be implemented by most homeowners. As a demonstration site LCA hopes that the public can gain greater understanding of the problems associated with stormwater that affect the streams and lake. Come see how beautiful a bio-retention area can be and how big a rainbarrel needs to be to catch a ½ inch of rain off of the roof area. Nutrients in the stream can contribute to harmful algal blooms and fish die-offs in Lake Champlain. You can learn more about the problem and what landowners can do to improve water quality in a brief 17-minute presentation LCA’s website at https://www.lewiscreek.org/water-quality-videos. These include things like slowing water down, spreading it out, and sinking it into the ground (“the three S’s” that are central to LCA’s Ahead of the Storm program. You can learn more about the Ahead of the Storm program at www.lewiscreek.org/ahead-of-the-storm). It is crucial that we all do our part to improve to water quality in small ways, in order to improve Lake Champlain’s water quality and beauty, and to protect the animals and plants that live in our rivers and streams.