Comprehensive Environmental Inc (CEI) - LID Committee - Natick, MA Raingarden Demonstration Project

For more information on these raingardens follow the links below.

These photos were taken on June 17, 2005.

Comprehensive Environmental Inc (CEI) provided funds for this Low Impact Design (LID) raingarden Project located in the SuAsCo watershed and the Charles River watershed, in the Town of Natick, MA. CEI's LID Committee personnel served as the technical consultants for this project to identify a location for the project, design the raingarden, as well as providing the labor for the actual construction.

The project location had to fit several criteria:

an area that could capture and infiltrate stormwater runoff discharging to nearby stormdrains and eventually to the Charles River and SuAsCo watersheds
an area that was visible to the public
an area that would provide an educational benefit

The area at the end of the homeowner's driveway was chosen as the raingarden location. Information from the homeowner indicated that the driveway runoff provide a significant amount of runoff which flows down the driveway into the street and to a nearby storm drain.

On May 4 & 5, 2005 the garden areas (one on each side of the driveway - 39sf garden and 48sf garden) was excavated, and on May 8th the garden was landscaped. Because of multiple storms the plantings were not placed until May 14. The garden was completed on May 14th.

The homeowner also added a raingarden in the front of his home to allow stormwater from his gutters to infiltrate into his garden. This garden was easily constructed by adding a connector to his already existing downpipe and deflecting that water flow through a vertical pvc pipe buried in his garden. This allowed stormwater from his roof to flow evenly throughout his front garden (See pictures below).

Construction of Rain Garden

A hole was excavated in the center of the garden and a perforated pvc pipe placed vertically into the hole. The raingardens are dug so that they are tied into soils that lie below the normal frostline. Stone or slotted PVC tubing is then used to promote drainage in the bottom of the raingarden. This keeps the drainage working during winter months, preventing total freezing. The holed areas were then covered with filter fabric and filled with rocks provided from the excavated area.

The rock area was covered with the filter fabric and a 4" mixture of 50% native soil and 50% compost was spread over the garden area landscaped so that a depressed area was formed.

The compost-amended soil has many potential benefits when instituted with establishment of turf and landscaping, including:

increased water conservation,
increased nutrient retention,
better turf aesthetics,
reduced need for chemical use,
improved stormwater retention, and
cost-savings to the private landowner.

The area was planted with live plants on May 14, 2005 and a two inch Hemlock mulch covering, was placed to prevent erosion from the exposed soils and to protect the plants.

Native plants were selected for their ability to grow in various depths of water and soil moisture conditions.

Pre Construction Photos

Winter picture	Winter picture	Desired area

Construction Photos (May 4, 2005)

Digging	Filling with rock	Landscaped

Functional Garden Photos (May 9, 2005)

Water on driveway	Left garden	Right garden

Planting Photos (May 14, 2005)

Left garden with plants	Completed gardens	Right garden with plants

Summer Photos 2005

May 2005	June 2005	July 2005

August, 2005	May 2005 front garden	August 2005 front garden

Summer Photos 2006

June 2006 end of driveway	June 2006 right side driveway with flow	June 2006 right side driveway

August 2006 left side driveway	August 2006 right side driveway	August 2006 both ends of driveway

Click any thumbnail for a larger view. Photos above taken by CEI LID Committee members.