by Stacy James, Water Resources Scientist

Our new Stomwater Management Guidebook informs readers of how to manage stormwater with green infrastructure. Green infrastructure involves the use of soil, vegetation, and cisterns to capture stormwater, instead of the traditional reliance on pipes and other concrete conveyances. The guidebook is specific to Illinois, and explains what green infrastructure is, how it can be used to meet permitting requirements, and where green infrastructure projects can be found across the state. Nine green infrastructure practices are featured, and proper placement, maintenance, and installation costs are discussed for each practice.

View PRN’s Prairie River Notes – Summer 2010 Newsletter (pdf) with the following articles:

• Big Wheels Keep on Rolling – Update on Traveling Science Center
• A Message from our Executive Director
• PRN Annual Dinner – October 29th
• River Steward Nominations
• Helping Champaign Homeowners Manage Stormwater Through Rain Gardens and Rain Barrels
• Illinois Contaminated by Coal Pollution
• How You Can Help Reduce Illinois’ Coal Pollution Problem
• PRN Studying Public Waterway Rights
• Ready to Unveil! Webpages for Watershed Groups
• Thank You Interns and Volunteers

The rain garden doing its job after a heavy rain (credit: K. Nystrom)

On Saturday, June 5, a rain garden was created at a private residence in Champaign’s John Street neighborhood.  A volunteer crew of 14 people assisted with the project, which was planned and supervised by Prairie Rivers Network staff.  Our thanks go out to this hearty crew and the homeowners, who labored through rain and in muddy conditions, and to Melia Smith for filming the event.  We also thank our project partners, the John Street Watershed Steering Committee and the City of Champaign.   

The rain garden is part of Prairie Rivers’ Reining in the Rain Campaign (funded by Illinois American Water).  The Campaign is creating demonstration sites for residents who want to learn more about rain gardens.   You can drive by and check it out; the rain garden is located at the southwest corner of Willis and John.

Volunteers hard at work digging the rain garden

Rain garden with native plants

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 19, 2010

CHAMPAIGN, IL — Prairie Rivers Network has been awarded a 2010 Environmental Grant from Illinois American Water. The grant will help fund a new stormwater outreach campaign called “Reining in the Rain in Champaign,” which was launched this month. Prairie Rivers Network will be working on this campaign with the City of Champaign, the John Street Watershed Steering Committee, the Washington Street East Watershed Steering Committee, and the Washington Street West Watershed Steering Committee.

“Prairie Rivers Network is excited to be working with Champaign residents and City staff to help address flooding problems and educate the public about alternative ways to manage the stormwater that causes flooding,” according to Stacy James, Water Resources Scientist for Prairie Rivers Network.

Many local neighborhoods experience significant flooding problems that cause property damage and sewage overflows. In particular, the John Street and Washington Street neighborhoods in Champaign have recently seen significant increases in flooding and wet basements. Residents can help reduce the amount of water that floods streets and storm sewers by getting more rainwater and snowmelt to soak into the ground on their own properties. Two things that residents can do at home are to install rain gardens and rain barrels.

 As part of Reining in the Rain, three rain gardens will be built in the John and Washington Street neighborhoods during 2010. The selection of the rain garden locations is currently underway. 50 rain barrels will also be given away at no cost to residents.

Established in 2005, the Illinois American Water Environmental Grant Program offers funds for innovative, community-based environmental projects in our local communities. “The Environmental Grant Program has been very successful in helping local organizations carry out meaningful, sustainable initiatives that benefit our watersheds,” said Karla Olson Teasley, president of Illinois American Water. “Again this year, the grant recipients exemplify the type of environmental stewardship in which we are proud to partner to better protect our drinking water resources.”

Prairie Rivers Network is Illinois’ statewide river conservation organization and the state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. Information about Prairie Rivers Network can be found online at www.prairierivers.org.

by Stacy James, Water Resources Scientist

When rain falls and snow melts, the resulting stormwater runoff eventually winds up in rivers and lakes. As stormwater travels, it picks up trash, pesticides, and other pollutants that then contaminate Illinois’ waterways. Urban stormwater isn’t just dirty, there’s a lot of it! In highly developed areas, more than half of precipitation becomes runoff because it cannot soak into the pavement and roads that cover most of the ground. This leads to an unnaturally high influx of water into rivers and lakes, causing flooding, eroding shorelines and streambanks, and property damage. Subsequently, most urban waterways are not very healthy. {Continue Reading »}

by Stacy James, Water Resources Scientist

For every inch of rain that falls, about a half-gallon of stormwater runoff is produced from one square foot of roof or pavement. That’s a lot of water, and most of it eventually winds up in our waterways. Along the way, the stormwater picks up oil, trash, bird droppings, pesticides, and other pollutants from the ground. {Continue Reading »}