"Retain: To keep or hold in a particular place, condition, or position."
It was a common theme at the March TAWGS meeting, as we learned about stormwater bio-retention cells, acted on reserving funds for the next Garden Show, and voted to maintain a version of the Pond Tour.
Presentation:Vivien Smith, Horticulturist from Topeka Public Works Deptartment, spoke on uses for rain gardens - specifically on the retention project on Jackson Street which began in 2003. She explained that in 1972 the Clean water Act passed, requiring cities like Topeka to reduce the harmful pollution in stormwater runoff, so the Jackson Street Drainage project started to show the city is using alternative methods to solve flooding and stormwater pollution problems.
To treat runoff before it traveled to the stormwater system, the west lane of traffic was removed and a series of bio-retention cells combined with standard underground stormwater system was constructed in its place. The cells were planted with a mixture of trees, shrubs and grasses native to Kansas, along with various wildflowers. This system helps improve runoff by slowing down the velocity of the water, filtering out harmful pollutants and reducing the chance of flooding by lowering the amount of stormwater that enters the storm sewer.
Ray Schroeder shows off the plaque from TAWGS that Floyd Gruver presented to him at Ray's Retirement Party.