Tom Evans, Landscape Architect with URS Cleveland, discussing the layers and materials to be used in the ODOT rain garden.

The Heart of Ohio RC&D had a busy October with two events focusing on water quality and management issues. The Olentangy Watershed Forum provided participants a chance to report and discuss regional conservation efforts and accomplishments. Del-Co Water Company hosted the forum, which allowed attendees to learn about company efforts in the watershed and to tour the facility to see what a billion gallons of water actually looks like.

Presentations included a panel on "Storm Water Management Opportunities During the Development Process," reports from Preservation Parks of Delaware County on dam removals and land acquisitions, and The Ohio State University presented on the implications of water quality trading. Other partnering groups included Ohio EPA, Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW), Olentangy Watershed Alliance, and the City of Delaware.

The second October project was to partner with the Central Ohio Rain Garden Initiative (CORGI). The initiative promotes rain gardens for community beautification and clean water and offers cost-share installation assistance for residential rain garden applications. Franklin SWCD is the lead contact for CORGI, and as a recent OEEF grant recipient, CORGI will undertake a long-term residential water monitoring project using rain garden technology.

CORGI’s Green Infrastructure Workshop and Training was held on October 21 and 22, 2008. The first day of the workshop featured an introduction to basic principles and design elements of rain gardens. The second day was a more intense, technical day specifically designed for engineers and other landscape design professionals. The workshop drew approximately 100 participants who were able to benefit from nationally known experts from the URS Corporation as well as to view an urban, commercial rain garden installation at the workshop site. The install is in progress and is being created in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Transportation. This site will serve as a model for similar installations in the future.