Recently the Vinton-Shellsburg administration installed a native-vegetated stormwater bioswale on its premises. The bioswale is located between the baseball & football fields, to the east of C Avenue. This effort is an example of a stormwater filtration practice that once fully grown, will provide several benefits such as: slow the overland flow of stormwater, increase ground water recharge, filter stormwater, improve flood resilience, offer water quality benefits not provided by conventional storm sewers, and provide habitat & food for native pollinators. Further, the location of the bioswale can benefit many students and the public as an educational outdoor classroom resource, teaching the importance of biodiversity and water quality.
The native-vegetated bioswale was planted late last fall. Prior to planting, the existing turf grass was sprayed to reduce competition with the prairie seed germination. You may notice that the area currently looks like a dead zone of turf grass: that is the intent. In the next growing season the bioswale will be mown on a regular basis. This allows the native plants’ root system to take hold & get established. Regular mowing will also suppress weeds & reduce any further competition. Then, during the next growing season, the prairie plants will be allowed to grow to their mature heights, and the results will be more visible.
So, why use native prairie plants? Our native prairie plants have evolved over thousands of years in our Midwestern climate. These plants can handle our unique and sometimes quirky temperature & moisture extremes. The seed mix that was planted consists of about 1/3 native grasses and 2/3 native forbs, all of which at maturity will be waist-height or lower. With increased habitat and food for pollinators such as insects, birds, & bees, this will increase the pollination of our agricultural crops & local gardens.
The extensive root systems of native plants are quite fibrous and provide the benefits of adding organic matter to the soil when tiny root fibers break down. This increase in organic matter in the soil increases the ion exchange capacity of the soil and provides increased habitat for tiny micro-organisms. The native plant roots also increase the soil porosity which allows stormwater to percolate into the soil, and decreases runoff. This means less potential flood water, and more groundwater recharge.
Did you know that soil is made up of many organisms & necessary for all life on earth? (https://www.extension.iastate.edu) Here in Iowa, we are blessed with some of the richest soil in the world! As such, this rich soil can help filter stormwater when paired with native plants. The native-vegetated bioswale in this project is an example of using the concept of our native prairie ecosystem to filter runoff & recharge ground water.
Recently the Vinton-Shellsburg administration installed a native-vegetated stormwater bioswale on its premises. The bioswale is located between the baseball & football fields, to the east of C Avenue. This effort is an example of a stormwater filtration practice that once fully grown, will provide several benefits such as: slow the overland flow of stormwater, increase ground water recharge, filter stormwater, improve flood resilience, offer water quality benefits not provided by conventional storm sewers, and provide habitat & food for native pollinators. Further, the location of the bioswale can benefit many students and the public as an educational outdoor classroom resource, teaching the importance of biodiversity and water quality.
The native-vegetated bioswale was planted late last fall. Prior to planting, the existing turf grass was sprayed to reduce competition with the prairie seed germination. You may notice that the area currently looks like a dead zone of turf grass: that is the intent. In the next growing season the bioswale will be mown on a regular basis. This allows the native plants’ root system to take hold & get established. Regular mowing will also suppress weeds & reduce any further competition. Then, during the next growing season, the prairie plants will be allowed to grow to their mature heights, and the results will be more visible.
So, why use native prairie plants? Our native prairie plants have evolved over thousands of years in our Midwestern climate. These plants can handle our unique and sometimes quirky temperature & moisture extremes. The seed mix that was planted consists of about 1/3 native grasses and 2/3 native forbs, all of which at maturity will be waist-height or lower. With increased habitat and food for pollinators such as insects, birds, & bees, this will increase the pollination of our agricultural crops & local gardens.
The extensive root systems of native plants are quite fibrous and provide the benefits of adding organic matter to the soil when tiny root fibers break down. This increase in organic matter in the soil increases the ion exchange capacity of the soil and provides increased habitat for tiny micro-organisms. The native plant roots also increase the soil porosity which allows stormwater to percolate into the soil, and decreases runoff. This means less potential flood water, and more groundwater recharge.
Did you know that soil is made up of many organisms & necessary for all life on earth? (https://www.extension.iastate.edu) Here in Iowa, we are blessed with some of the richest soil in the world! As such, this rich soil can help filter stormwater when paired with native plants. The native-vegetated bioswale in this project is an example of using the concept of our native prairie ecosystem to filter runoff & recharge ground water.
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