Water quality characteristics of three rain gardens located within the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, MN.
2010-05
Loading...
View/Download File
Persistent link to this item
Statistics
View StatisticsJournal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Title
Water quality characteristics of three rain gardens located within the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, MN.
Authors
Published Date
2010-05
Publisher
Type
Thesis or Dissertation
Abstract
Rain gardens are becoming an increasingly popular feature of Low-Impact Development. They promote decentralized stormwater management by treating stormwater runoff on-site. Rain gardens are effective because they store and infiltrate water allowing biogeochemical processes to occur, thereby removing pollutants from the runoff. Ensuring that rain gardens are functioning properly can be achieved by monitoring studies and visual assessments. This study focuses on the results from a water quality monitoring study and supplements the results with visual inspections of each site. Water quality benefits of rain gardens have been inconsistent and depend on various factors including size of rain garden, design specifications, location, vegetation, and contributing area. The U.S. Geological Survey monitored the water quality in three rain gardens located in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, Minnesota. The objective was to compare and contrast water quality characteristics from rain gardens with different designs and contributing area land uses. Representative water samples of the inflow, overflow, vadose zone, and groundwater were analyzed for nutrients typically found in urban stormwater runoff. Generally, lower median concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and total suspended solids were found in the vadose zone and groundwater compared to the inflow, suggesting good performance in terms of water quality benefits. One site exhibited no difference in dissolved phosphorus concentrations; believed to be a result of the low concentrations entering the garden. Higher chloride concentrations were found in the soil and ground water compared to the inflow at two sites. Good evidence of nutrient removal in rain gardens resulting in relatively cleaner or unaffected recharge water reaching local ground water supplies was found from this study. Visual inspections of the three rain gardens provided additional evidence that these three sites are functioning well. There did not appear to be any major structural failures. The vegetation at each site also appeared to be healthy; however, the presence of wetland species and noxious weeds highlights the importance of maintenance.
Description
University of Minnesota M.S. thesis. June 2010. Major: Water Resources Science. Advisors: Mary Meyer, Gary Sands, Bryan Horgan. 1 computer file (PDF); vii, 117 pages. Ill. (some col.)
Related to
Replaces
License
Series/Report Number
Funding information
Isbn identifier
Doi identifier
Previously Published Citation
Suggested citation
Elliott, Sarah Marie. (2010). Water quality characteristics of three rain gardens located within the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, MN.. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/93088.
Content distributed via the University Digital Conservancy may be subject to additional license and use restrictions applied by the depositor. By using these files, users agree to the Terms of Use. Materials in the UDC may contain content that is disturbing and/or harmful. For more information, please see our statement on harmful content in digital repositories.