Homeowners' Projects
The single most
effective measure to improve stormwater quantity and water quality is by
reducing the amount of impervious surface and creating breaks in the impervious
surface connections to allow runoff to soak into the ground.
This can be
accomplished by planting trees and increasing the vegetative buffers or by
targeting problem areas with bowl
gardens or retention ponds. When these measures are used in conjunction
with water capture (e.g., cisterns or rain barrels), the impact on stormwater is
significant.
The next most
important measure is to improve water quality of storm runoff leaving your
property. You can accomplish this by reducing the amount of chemicals and fertilizers used,
which find their way into the watershed during a storm. The projects below
have been shown to be extremely effective as well as adding value to your home
and community.
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Landscaping & Yard Care
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When it comes to
lawns, folks spend a lot of time and money ... and chemicals to keep it looking
perfect. Not only does the average yard uses many times more chemicals than
a farmer but homeowners often apply too much fertilizer or use pesticides that wipe out
the beneficial insects along with the pest.
Widespread use of
many herbicides and pesticides - most of which should not be used near any body of
water - are used by the ton in the United States. Those chemicals not only
pollute the stormwater but also infiltrate groundwater supplies and contribute
to a growing background of chemical exposure.
There is a better way
and one that will yield effective results as well as improve water quality.
More >>
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Rain Barrels and Cisterns
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Many folks don't
realize how much stormwater is generated from their property. A single
surface of 1,200 square feet can generate up to 600 gallons of stormwater runoff
from one inch of rainfall. So a typical lot of 60' by 100' that is 80%
impervious will generate upwards of 2,400 gallons of runoff.
Rain barrels and
cisterns are an easy way to capture some of that runoff. It becomes
especially important when so much construction design does not leave a gap in
impervious surfaces leading to a tremendous channel of runoff into the streets.
Oak Island has rain
barrels and adaptor kits for sale ($20) and technical help to install them too.
Be sure to check out the February 21st workshop on hooking up a rain barrel.
More >>
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Rain Gardens &
Retention Ponds
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Rain gardens and retention ponds are an excellent way to address problem areas
on your property. By directing stormwater runoff away from the house and
to a particular area you can mitigate the problems of flooding.
As
the island is built out, some homes are finding themselves sandwiched in between
newer properties that graded their property at a higher elevation.
This creates a 'dike' effect for the house next to it and under heavy rains
forces the water into the lower lying adjacent property. A rain garden or
retention pond is an excellent tool to help mitigate this problem.
More >>
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Permeable Pavers and Porous Pavers
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Permeable and porous pavers used
to be so expensive they were only used on custom or high-end homes. But
competition and new designs have brought costs down so they are being used more
widely. Instead of pouring a concrete path folks are creating imaginative
winding trails through their landscapes. For more ideas on applications,
read on.
More >>
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Neighborhood Cleanup
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Picking up around
your neighborhood or along your walks is an easy way to keep litter under
control and out of the stormwater system. If there are big areas, the town
will either clean it up or provide supplies for a local cleanup effort. So
don't forget your litter bag when you head out the door for a brisk stroll to
the beach.
More >>
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Renovation
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Do you miss the
smell of drywall dust in the morning? Are you itching to itch after
installing the fiberglass insulation? It appears that more and more
Americans are gluttons for punishment; the average homeowner is spending more
money and time than ever fixing up the ole' castle. Maybe it's time to
consider some other fixes that might help the environment too. For more
details, read on.
More >>
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While a lot of these homeowner projects are recommended,
they are optional on Oak Island. However, some communities like
the Village of Woodsong
in Shallotte, NC have integrated more stringent criteria into the
development. For example, individual owners are required to submit
their particular stormwater approach as part of the landscape review
process. Each lot is allotted a maximum limit of impervious
surface area and when the site plan goes over that limit, the homeowner
must provide additional information on stormwater mitigation.
Typically, the options available to the homeowners for on-site retention
include:
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"cookie sheets" or shallow infiltration basins that
empty through weirs
to the front of the lot into the grassy street portion;
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use of cisterns with overflow capability and valves
to allow drip irrigation;
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lot configuration and rear yard setback for
separation between the garage and house.
The larger
development measures at Woodsong also considered contouring the
grassy margins to steer water towards shallow aggregate filled pits near
trees, which are spaced 30 feet apart on both sides of the road.
The street design incorporates permeable pavers, curb-less streets to
allow water flow into grassy areas, a constructed wetlands garden, and a
host of other LID features.
The critical message is that communities can dramatically
improve stormwater management with some simple fundamental changes in
design and materials. And the overall benefit is a neighborhood
that is more highly integrated with its natural surroundings, all of
which adds quality of life and value to the home and surrounding area.
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