Kirsten Cahow Scholtes, Eau Claire County - University of ...

Conservation InYour Own BackyardBy: Kirsten Cahow-ScholtesEau Claire CountyLand Conservation DivisionSupervisor

Where does stormwater go?

Storm DrainGunk*Piped directly to Wetland,Lake or Stream* Gunk= sediment, nutrients, bacteria, organic matter, oil, heavy metals, etc.

Stormwater runoff is not treated.Runs offimpervioussurfaceEnters stormdrain systemDischargedto river

Water emerges at high velocitythrough stormsewer systems

Flash Floods

Erosion

Sediment Delivered to waterway1 acre construction=75 acres cropland

… fills in spaces between rocksNo spaces for fish spawning No invertebrate habitat Spaces for fish to lay eggs Invertebrates can live & hide

Dealing with ImperviousSurfaces and Stormwater• Environmentally Friendly/Water-smart LawnCare• Directing downspouts to natural areas• Rain Gardens• Rain Barrels• Pervious pavers

Why go GREEN?: The Facts• Non-point runoff is the #1 threat to Wisconsin’swater, especially soil runoff• In Wisconsin up to 30% of all household trash isyard waste• Residential application of fertilizers can beexcessive if soil tests aren’t performed• A lawn often has less than 10% of the waterabsorption capacity of a natural woodland• Gas-powered landscape equipment account forover 5% of our urban air pollution

Benefits of EnvironmentallyFriendly Yard Care• Safer for children & pets• Environmental health• Water quality and quantity• Air quality• Save time and money• Healthier, more self-sufficient landscape

Choosing the right plants• Know your site conditions• Protect natural areas• Consider natives• Low maintenance plants• Energy conservation• Attracting wildlife• Property value and cost savings

Value of UsingNative PlantsDeeper roots -absorbs more waterUses no fertilizerUses little or no pesticidesEasy maintenance afterfirst yearDoes not require wateringafter establishment

Natives: It’s in the Roots

Landscaping with Natives

Designed & Installed by:Energyscapes

Oehme / van Sweden

Oehme / van Sweden

Keep your lawn healthy

Raise Mowing Height to 3”U of M Mowing-Height Studyphoto by: Mary Meyer

No Mow Lawn Mix (blend of fine fescues)Prairie Nurserywww.prairienursery.com

Think Before You Fertilize…

What does a few clippings inthe curb matter?

Grass Clippings & Fertilizers can containhigh levels of PhosphorusJune 25, 2007Lakeview Road

Franklin PondIncreased amounts of runoff with sediment, nutrients andpollutants can disrupt natural processesWe’re Dumping a Lot of Stuff In Our LakesDid you know: One quart of motor oil can contaminate 250,000 gallons of water

Increased amounts of runoff with sediment, nutrients and pollutants candisrupt natural processesWe’re Over-Fertilizing Our Lakes & StreamsComo Lake

Choose zero-phosphorus fertilizerIt’s the Law…by April 2010!Too much phosphorus promotes the rapid growth of weeds andalgae and decreases water clarity, often turning lakes green

Choose zero-phosphorus fertilizerOne pound of phosphorus in runoff can result in 500pounds of algae growth!If you follow the instructions on a bag of fertilizer containing phosphorus youmay be adding over 50# of phosphorus to a half-acre lot each year

Minimize Fertilizer and PesticidesImproper use can contribute to water quality problems!

Even better, stop usingtoxic products

Basics of Pest Control• Pest control starts with prevention• Identify the problem• Consider physical controls• Encourage biological controls• Use less toxic products• If pesticides are used, follow the directions• As a general rule: 90-95% of the insects onyour lawn and garden are NOT harmful

Properly dispose of householdhazardous wastesClean Sweep at WRR: May 9 th , July 11 th , Sept 12 th & Nov 14 thPharmaceutical Collection: May 16 th at Eau Claire EXPO Center

Other Yard Care Practices

What is composting?Using the natural process of decay tochange organic wastes into a valuablehumus-like material called compostGrass clippingsFood scrapsCompostLeaves

Compost• Reuse organic materials• Leaves• Lawn clippings• Other plant material• Recycle natural nutrients• Improve soil without chemicals• Produce rich humus for plants• Save money on chemical fertilizers

Mulch• Provides more uniform soiltemperature• Reduces soil erosion, and moistureloss• Improves soil structure• Reduces or eliminates weeds• Reduces soil-borne disease

Mulches• Synthetic• Plastic• Landscaping Fabric• Organic• Leaves• Straw• Wood chips• Paper Mulch

Conserve Water• Think Water-Wise• Know your site conditions• Water-friendly landscaping• Avoid over-watering-Asphalt does NOT grow• Use efficient irrigation methods• Proper scheduling of watering• Explore alternative methods ofwatering

Category 1: Minimum Input, Sunny Location- Generally will not be watered.- Will be fertilized once per year or less.- Will be mowed no more than once per week.- Where a more drought-tolerant lawn is desired.Grass Mix: Mixture of 50 to 60% common type Kentucky bluegrasses and 40 to 50%fine fescue. Include at least two varieties from Aquila, Monopoly, Nassau, Newport,Nugget, Park, Ram I, Rugby, South Dakota Certified, Sydsport, Touchdown, or othercommon Kentucky bluegrass. One or two varieties of fine fescue (sometimes listedon the seed label as creeping red fescue, Chewings fescue, or hard fescue) shouldalso be included.Category 2: Minimum Input, Partially Shady LocationInputs as in Category 1.Grass Mix: Seed with mixture of about 60% fine fescue grasses and 40% shadetolerant Kentucky bluegrass. Some of the better shade tolerant Kentucky bluegrassvarieties for Minnesota include Eclipse, Glade, Touchdown, Ram I, Nugget, andSydsport.U of Mn Extension,Mugaas & Pedersen

Build a Rain Garden

The Basics ofRain GardensHelps to protectand restore naturalhydrologyAllows rain tosoak into the groundIntercepts pollutants

Raingardens(Capturing Rainwater / Stormwater )Just like a regular landscape planting,but designed primarily to absorb rainwaterConcept - Gregg Thompson, Illustration - Taina Litwak, Animation - Ron Struss

uphillDown spoutuphillbermdownhill

Making a Raingarden1. Find the Right Location:Locate near a downspout, sidewalk, driveway – any place that producesrunoff (but at least 10’ away from nearby buildings with basements).Raingarden size should be about 10-15 % of the size of theimpervious area that flows to it.2. Create a Shallow Depression:Excavate a shallow (4-6” deep), flat-bottomed bowl to collect rainwaterand snowmelt. If needed, deeply loosen the soil below and add wellagedleaf-compost into this soil, to help encourage water to soak intothe ground. Add 2-3” depth of shredded wood mulch to cover thesoils in the raingarden area.3. Choose the Right Plants:Pick the ‘Right Plant for the Right Place’. Select plants (whetherperennials, shrubs and/or trees) that can thrive in periodic floodingand also periods of drought, in your site’s soil types.

PlantingDepressionBermPlymouth

Blue Flag IrisPussytoesYear 2

Attracts Birds & Butterflies

Attractive addition to property,enhancing beauty of community

Expo Center Rain Gardens

Half Moon Lake Rain Garden

Lake Wissota Rain Garden

Other Eau Claire Rain Gardens

Direct downspouts onto your lawnor landscaping, not hard surfaces

Why Rain Barrels?• It’s free water collected from your roof.• May be practical where a rain garden isn’t• Rain water is usually soft and free ofdissolved minerals. This untreated water isgreat for your indoor plants, your gardenand lawn, or washing your car• Minimizes stormwater impacts

Mosquito – Proof Inlets55 gallons eachCapture Water with Rainbarrels

OverflowOutletInletBuild Your Own Rainbarrel

Options for driveways and otherimpervious surfaces

NRCS-Iowa

Permeable Pavers‘Turf Block’Detroit Lakes, MN

Permeable Pavers‘Turf Block’Detroit Lakes, MN

Local pervious driveway