Wed October 10, 2012 Earth Calendar for October 10th and October
11th There are many ways to curb the amounts of excess nutrients
entering lakes, rivers and streams – a bioretention system is
one of them. Bioretention systems – also called rain gardens –
are landscape best management practices (BMPs) that use
filtration to treat storm water runoff in a depressed area. They
can be implemented in residential areas with trees, shrubs and
grasses to catch rainwater during and after a storm. As the
vegetated area receives the water, it filters it through the
soil and plants, removing nutrients before the water reaches a
water body. According to a recent study, bioretention systems
were able to remove 47 to 68 percent of phosphorus from runoff.
Installing a bioretention area near your house can add natural
beauty and help protect water quality in local water bodies. For
more information on these systems and how they work, visit the
US EPA’s website. On Our Calendar: The Dayton Aviation Heritage
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