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Rain Garden Percolates at Fowler Middle School
Rain water flowing across rooftops, sidewalks, streets and parking lots carries pollutants to our creeks and streams. This means substances like fertilizer, oil, pesticides, and pet waste can end up in our waterways. When Fowler Middle School students learned the rain water from the school�s parking lot was channeled into a neighboring creek, they were concerned. The students, led by teacher Sue Manning, set out to see if they could do something to improve the situation.

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That�s when the students discovered �rain gardens.� Rain gardens are shallow depressions in the ground that capture rain water runoff from impervious surfaces. Rain gardens offer several benefits:

The flowers, grasses and shrubs that are incorporated into these gardens absorb the pollutants contained in runoff.
During heavy rain, rain gardens reduce flooding by capturing and containing runoff that would normally be directed to local waterways.
Water collected in rain gardens percolates through the soil and replenishes ground water.

With their new-found knowledge, Fowler students took on the rain garden project. First they were treated to an artificial rainstorm in the parking lot by utility crews using a water truck. The students measured the size of the drainage area, timed how long it took water to infiltrate the soil, and calculated the size of the rain garden needed. Next rain garden plants were selected and, with the help of Clean Water Services� crews, the rain garden became a reality.

For their initiative and hard work, Clean Water Services has recognized Ms. Manning and the Fowler students as Clean Water Heroes. Are you interested in following their lead? To learn if a rain garden might be a good fit for your yard or business property, contact Water Quality Program Coordinator Carla Staedter at 503-718-2788 or carla@tigard-or.gov.