Welcome to the Niles Community Rain Garden!
The Niles Community Rain Garden project began as a water sustainability collaboration between the Village of Niles and a local soft drink bottling company. The first of three phases was installed on June 3, 2008. Through this public/private partnership, the Village of Niles is now the home of the largest functioning rain garden in all of Cook County.
According to the Village of Niles, the most important goal of the Niles Community Rain Garden project is education. This is an earthcache that will educate visitors about the vital role that soil plays in filtering stormwater and how rain gardens and native prairies can improve the soil's ability to provide this crucial filtration.
Information about rain gardens from The Groundwater Foundation:
WHAT IS A RAIN GARDEN?
A rain garden is a garden of native shrubs, perennials, and flowers planted in a small depression, which is generally formed on a natural slope. It is designed to temporarily hold and soak in rain water runoff that flows from impermeable surfaces like roofs, concrete and asphalt pavement, and lawns. Rain gardens are effective in removing up to 90% of nutrients and chemicals and up to 80% of sediments from the rainwater runoff. Compared to a conventional lawn, rain gardens allow for 30% more water to soak into the ground.
A rain garden is not a wetland. In fact, a rain garden is dry most of the time. It typically holds water only during and following a rainfall event. Because they drain quickly, rather than allowing water to pool and stagnate, they prevent mosquitoes from breeding.
WHY IS RAINWATER RUNOFF A PROBLEM?
When it rains, water runs off impermeable surfaces, collecting pollutants such as particles of dirt, fertilizer, chemicals, oil, garbage, and bacteria along the way. This polluted water enters storm drains untreated and flows directly to nearby streams and ponds. The US EPA estimates that pollutants carried by rainwater runoff account for 70% of all water pollution.
Rain gardens collect rainwater runoff, allowing the water to be filtered by vegetation and percolate into the soil recharging groundwater aquifers and filtering out pollutants.
WHAT BENEFITS DO RAIN GARDENS PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY?
In addition to mproving water quality by filtering out pollutants, rain gardens also provide localized stormwater and flood control. They are aesthetically pleasing, preserving native vegetation and attracting beneficial birds, butterflies and insects. They area easy to maintain after they are established
WHAT TYPES OF PLANTS THRIVE BEST IN A RAIN GARDEN?
Only native vegetation should be incorporated into a rain garden, never invasive or non-native plants. Once established, native plants don’t require pesticides or fertilizera, have good root systems, and are better at utilizing the water and nutrients available in their native soils than non-native species. Perennials, shrubs, wildflowers, or a mixture of all three can be planted. Trees are not generally a part of a rain garden design. Trees generally absorb more water than surrounding plants.
To log this earthcache, message me with the following (SIX bullet points plus photo):
OBSERVATIONS:
- What are some of the specfic impermeable surfaces in the area for which you think this rain garden filters stormwater run-off?
- A swale is a shallow channel with gently sloping sides. There is a man-made swale at N 42° 0.719' W 87° 48.290'. See waypoint. What natural material is it lined with? Which direction does it run: N-S, E-W, NW-SE or NE-SW? (You may need to look at the sat view if the native plants are too tall.)
- Describe any precipitation there was on the day you visited.
- What were the soil conditions on the day you visited? For example, was the ground dry, wet, snow covered or was there standing water? How were these soil conditions evidence of the effectiveness of this rain garden? See italicized passage above.
NILES COMMUNITY RAIN GARDEN (interpretive sign at posted coordinates):
- What three words complete the following?
A rain garden is a natural _______ system that is no more than a vegetative depression (minimum of 6 inches deep) that collects stormwater runoff from a roof, driveway or yard and allows it to infiltrate into the ground. Rain gardens are a _______ infrastructure and are typically planted with _______ native plants and can be colorful, landscaped areas [that] provide important environmental benefits.
NILES NATIVE PRAIRIE PROJECT (interpretive sign at waypoint):
- Most lawns in this region are Kentucky Blue Grass. In your own words, explain the role that soil plays in a rain garden and the advantage that native plants have over Kentucky Blue Grass in the soil's ability to fulfill this role.
PHOTO REQUIREMENT:
When you log this cache, include a photo of yourself, your thumb, or your GPSr at the rain garden taken the day of your visit. Without posting spoilers for the answers above, be sure it is clear that your photo was taken at this location.
Special thanks to Mayor George Alpogianis for permission to place this earthcache in the Niles Community Rain Garden.