Healthy Watersheds and Healthy Communities: Why Native Plant Rainscaping is important to local rivers and streams
Presented by: David Wilson
David retired after a career in environmental education and planning. The last 15 years of his career were spent at East-West Gateway Council of Governments where he led efforts in regional watershed planning and in the development of a regional sustainability plan so he is extremely knowledgeable about the rivers and watersheds in our region.
David started out reminding us that we are the River City! A title we should be proud of but also recognize the responsibility of managing what and how water and debris in the waterflow’s path enter these waterways and possibly our water supply. David also mentioned that he realized Wild Ones members and others in the native plant community realize the benefits of rainscaping.
Watershed management, which is a function of the East-West Gateway Council of Governments as our regional planning agency, began by the EPA in the late 90s to address the drainage basin of each body of water. In our area we have the Mississippi, Missouri, Meramec and countless smaller rivers and streams. The need to manage runoff from parking lots, streets and roads is evident, as well as the need to protect our drinking water.
The East-West Gateway Council of Governments describes its water quality initiatives as such:
Our water resources are a vital regional asset and therefore stormwater management, floodplain protection, wetland habitat, watershed planning and restoration, wastewater treatment and drinking water are important policy issues which need constant attention.
The watershed is the drainage from high ground to a body of water. The watershed consists of ground water as well as surface water.
Watershed Inventory map from MDC
Factors which affect water quality and thus human health:
- Agricultural practices – farmland silt runoff smothers aquatic life and can contain chemicals which are harmful.
- Construction practices – Clearing trees and landscaping contributes to runoff.
- Road Construction & highways – create superhighways for runoff.
- Parks – grass and parking lots – more runoff; non-native grasses do not absorb rainwater.
Due to urban sprawl, our infrastructure is challenged to accommodate such a large area. The metro St. Louis area accommodated a large population which has now somewhat migrated west to St. Charles County and beyond. Also, there are political considerations. Because watersheds often encompass more that one city, or county, bringing political leaders together to solve watershed problems can be very complicated.
Without proper management, runoff can result in flooding and property damage, erosion and silting in our rivers and streams which threatens fish and other wildlife.
Here are some of the methods that can be used to manage runoff:
- Reduce impervious surfaces
- Use pervious pavement
- Use Vegetated swales
- Install Native Plant Rain gardens
- Green roofs
- Conservation design for new developments (concentrate housing and leave more open space, especially in flood prone areas, and where able to protect quality habitat)
Rainwater is a resource necessary for our survival– the goal is to slow it down. Rainscaping slows the water down so it can soak into the ground avoiding problems like runoff and flooding which affect our water supply and property values. Native plants, with their deep roots, can play a major roll in managing this resource. A role that can be shared community-wide regardless of individual political, economic and geographic status.
David and his wife Karla live in Webster Groves, and now spend summers in California camping off the grid as volunteer campground hosts for the US Forest Service.
Thank you to Donna Short for assembling these highlights!
