Scarsdale Conservation Advisory Council

Sustainable Scarsdale Educational Series Issue #1

Resource GuideRain Gardens & Sustainable Landscaping

Rain Garden: How to Construct

www.bbg.org www.sustainability.uconn.edu/pdf/raingarden www.vacd.org/winooski/winooski_raingarden.shtml http://planning.westchestergov.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1439&Itemid=2432

Rain Garden: Selecting Plants

www.cce.cornell.edu/onondaga www.native-raingarden.com/index www.nativeplantlist.org www.nativeplantcenter.org http://www.ipcnys.org/

Rain Garden: Water Management and Sustainability

Rain Gardens by Nigel Dunnet and Andy Clayden http://planning.westchestergov.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1182&Itemid=2131

Sustainable Landscaping:

www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/greenscapes/owners.htm www.audobon.org/bird/at _home/pdf/AAHPA-43-52-Rain.pdf

Trees:

http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/tree_selection.aspx http://www.americanforests.org/resources/urbanforests/naturevaluue.php

Additional Information is also available at:

Westchester County Soil and Water Conservation District www.westchestergov.com/planning National Invasive Species Information Center www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov Natural Resources Conservation Service Plant Database http://plants.usda.gov

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation www.dec.ny.gov Before You Dig Dig Safe NY: (1-800-962-7962)

Note: this resource page will be available at the Conservation Advisory Councils website which can be accessed from the Scarsdale Village website: www.Scarsdale.com

Scarsdale Conservation Advisory Council

Sustainable Scarsdale Educational Series Issue #1

Rain Gardens
Yes!
A beautiful rain garden can be a colorful focal point of your suburban landscape. Its

simple to install this effective means of stormwater control. A basic rain garden soaks up runoff water from roofs, driveways, patios or lawns. These planting beds are strategically placed to work with nature to direct water into the ground - instead of into our basements and roadways. The Village of Scarsdale Conservation Advisory Council urges everyone to take a fresh look at their yard during the next storm with this creative approach in mind.

Why?

Local flooding affects not only Scarsdale, but also our neighbors along the various

streams that flow throughout the region, eventually into the Atlantic Ocean. When rainwater flows into storm drains, it often carries motor oil, pesticides and other pollutants directly into our rivers adversely effecting wildlife and water quality. The absorption of water on site with a rain garden, naturally slows and filters the water as it goes into the underground aquifer. This not only cleans our drinking water, but also lessens the amount of runoff that contributes to widespread flooding. Take a look at the Native Plant Centers demonstration rain garden at Westchester Community College. It features a dry stream bed that attractively carries water away and into garden beds that can survive both dry and wet conditions. Their web site provides photographs, planting suggestions and other detailed information on how rain gardens can be incorporated into your home landscape. See www.nativeplantcenter.org An informative brochure, An Introduction to Rain Gardens, created by the Cornell Cooperative Extension, will be sent in a future mailer. The back of this page has a list of additional resources which will provide you with all the information you need to plan your new water-wise, environmentally beneficial landscape.

The Sustainable Scarsdale Educational Series is produced by the Scarsdale Conservation Advisory Council in cooperation with the Sustainable Committee of the Village Board of Trustees, the Friends of Scarsdale Parks and the Village Staff. Issue #1 was researched and written by Lee Singer and Lena Crandall. Watch for future issues on topics of tree care, household water and energy conservation and organic lawn care.