Rain Garden Design Specifications for Michigan Conditions

Donald Carpenter, Ph.D. Lawrence Technological University January 11th, 2007 Rouge River Watershed Communities

Rain Garden (Bioretention Cell)

Ponding

Filter Bed

Underdrain

Additional Storage In-situ soils

Rain Garden

Lathrup Village, MI Courtesy of Lillian Dean

Rain Garden

Madison, Wisconsin Courtesy of Roger Bannerman

Bioretention (Rain Garden): Design Overview

Key feature for LID/conservation design Focus on water quality volume (first flush or 1 of rain) Remove TSS (85%), nutrients (50%) , metals (95%), and hydrocarbons (80%) Planting mix comprised of sand, topsoil, and compost top with mulch Proper landscaping is essential For site development stormwater management should include overflow drains Less than 1 ac total and acre impervious

Bioretention (Rain Garden): Design Overview - Infiltration

Hydraulic conductivity of in-situ soils is key Need in-situ soil information for infiltration
HSG maps (soil type A (1 to 3 in/hr); B (0.5 in/hr); C (0.2 in/hr); D (< 0.1 in/hr) Soil borings & laboratory tests Field infiltration tests

Home test
18 hole fill with water; drain, refill and record

Improve infiltration by tilling, ripping or jetting Bottom should be 3 ft higher than seasonal g.w.t.

Bioretention (Rain Garden): Design Overview - Sizing

Minimum size is typically 10 ft by 20 ft Minimum depth is 2.5 ft Ponding depth is typically 6 to 18 Recommend 24 to 48 hours to drain (< 72 hours) Infiltration (i)
i > 0.5 in/hr (or 1 in/hr) then basic design; i < 0.5
in/hr need underdrain

Results of 2005 Laboratory Investigation

Determine the storm water absorption capabilities of rain gardens of different mixtures
field capacity (water retained) permeability (water drained)

The 2005 laboratory study compared five different rain garden planting mixtures Evaluated the effect of different amounts of sand and topsoil

Field Capacity
160

Percentage by Weight of Water Retained

140 120 100

Run 1

80 60 40 20 0 100 / 0 / 0 80 / 20 / 0 60 / 40 / 0 0 / 100 / 0 35 / 35 / 30 80 / 10 / 10

Run 2

Run 3

Mixture Ratio

140

120

% of Water Retained

100

80

60

40

20

0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

%Sand Content by Volume

Permeability
60

50

Permeability (in/hr)

40
Run 1

30

Run 2
Run 3

20

10

0 100 / 0 / 0 80 / 20 / 0 60 / 40 / 0 0 / 100 / 0 80 / 10 / 10

Mixture Ratio

60

50

Permeability (in/hr)

40

30

20

10

0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

%Sand Content by Volume

Implications for Rain Garden Design

Mixture is going to dictate permeability and performance of rain garden If the goal of the rain garden is to maximize water retention, than the amount of sand or topsoil should be limited. If water needs to drain quicker into permeable layers of in-situ soils or into an underdrain, then increase amount of sand in the mixture.

Current Project
Developing technical assistance and guidance materials for rain garden design
Design Guidelines for Engineers
Literature Review Michigan Specific Information

Two page public fact sheet for the region Comprehensive information on local rain gardens

Expand the investigation of permeability and retention of local rain gardens

Additional laboratory tests Field measurements

Current Project
Questions and Feedback

References & Resources

New York Stormwater Manual http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dow/toolbox/swmanual/ Minnesota Stormwater Manualhttp://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/stormwater/stormwatermanual.html USEPA Bioretention fact sheet http://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/biortn.pdf Univ of Wisconsin DNR http://clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs/home.htm#rain LID Urban Design Tools http://www.lid-stormwater.net/ SOCWA Healthy Lawns and Gardens http://www.socwa.org/lawn_and_garden.htm Rain Gardens of West Michigan http://www.raingardens.org/Index.php Prince Georges County, D.E.S. Bioretention http://www.goprincegeorgescounty.com/Government/Agency Index/DER/ESD/Bioretention/bioretention.asp