The Dummerston Rain Garden (10/28/06).

The Rain Garden at the Dummerston Covered Bridge is a Conservation Commission erosion control project designed to divert run-off from the parking lot and Rt 30 to a special pool so that partials can settle out. The pool is designed with a special bio-retention mix of soils that are perfect for native plants that like fairly wet conditions.  The plants use the water and help the evaporation process to prevent most of the storm water from reaching the West River.

At present, the earth work portion of the project is almost complete and we will be planting whatever we can get this time of year that should survive the winter.  Hopefully that will be most of them but there may be few that have to be planted next spring.  People can volunteer to supply plants or to help with the planting by calling 258-6479.

The project is being funded by grants from the Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District from Clear and Clean funds from the Department of Environmental Conservation, The West River Watershed Alliance, The Connecticut River Joint Commission, and the New England Grass Roots Foundation along with the generous volunteer efforts of William Jewell Environmental Consultants, Whetstone Valley Excavation, Steve Glaback Construction and the students and staff  in the Windham Regional Career Center Natural Resources
Class. 

    
Windham County Natural Resources Conservation District
28 Vernon Street, Suite #332 • Brattleboro, VT • 05301
802-254-5323 ext.104
Fax 802 254-3307


Department of Environmental Conservation                November 29, 2006
Agency of Natural Resources
100 Mineral Street
Suite 303
Springfield, Vermont 05156-3168

Attention:  Marie Levesque Carduto

Dear Ms Carduto

Final Report: Dummerston Covered Bridge Erosion Control Rain Garden Project.

Enclosed is the final report covering the Covered Bridge Erosion Control Rain Garden Project.  The project has been a great success and the Dummerston Conservation Commission appreciates your initiative and support.
 
This project adds an important barrier to West River pollution and ensures continued use of the Dummerston Covered bridge area for recreational access to the West River. Dummerston and the Conservation Commission in particular are grateful for your participation and funding of this effort and we wish to express our thanks.  This project is a demonstration of innovative environmental solutions and pooled resources.  We look forward to the continuing benefits to West River water quality and the value of the project as an educational resource to the public.

Best Regards,



Jack Lilly
Project Coordinator and Conservation Commission Member

CC:     Jolene Hamilton, Windham NRCD Manager
Mary Ellen Copeland, Dummerston Conservation Commission
Bill Jewell; Landscape Architect
 
Grant Final Report
Dummerston Covered Bridge Erosion Control Rain Garden Project
November 29th, 2006

Department of Environmental Conservation
Agency of Natural Resources
100 Mineral Street
Suite 303
Springfield, Vermont 05156-3168r

Final Report: Dummerston Covered Bridge Erosion Control Rain Garden Project

The Dummerston Covered Bridge Erosion Control Rain Garden Project has been a great success and it has been finished within time and budget limits.  The garden has proven to have ample capacity for all the runoff from storms we has seen so far assuring us that the design is appropriate for site conditions.  No storm runoff has entered the West River since the project was completed.  The garden fills with water During a storm the garden fills with water which is taken up by the plants, percolates, and/or evaporates, and is gone within a day or two.  The plants used are almost entirely native species that have been chosen for their effectiveness in this application.  The plants seem to like their new environment and grass has taken root over the finished contours of the area surrounding the garden.  The final proof of the project is expected in the spring.  The impact of spring runoff should be greatly or entirely diminished and the spring buds and blossoms should be an added reward. 

Completing this project, which was finished within time limits and within the budget, adds an important barrier to West River pollution and ensures continued use of the Dummerston Covered bridge area for recreational access to the West River.  It has also demonstrated the strength of a collaborative effort of committed participants. The Vermont Agency of Transportation had faith in our concept and allowed us to redesign the drainage of Route 30 and to remove their culvert.  The landscape architect was willing to proceed with the design without assurance there would be sufficient funds to pay him in full.  Major excavation and grading was negotiated by offering the excavation materials in exchange for the cost of the work.  The existing culvert was removed by the Dummerston Highway department at no cost and the culvert was reused at another location in town to resolve a road erosion problem that was impacting Crosby Brook.  The silt fence, grading, placement of soils and compost, placement of the erosion control blanket and final seeding were done by the Windham Regional Career Center (Forestry Program) at the cost of their materials and expenses.  .  Many of the plants were donated by interested parties.  Ruth Marks and Jolene Hamilton deserve mention.  The planting was done by another group of volunteers.  In the end, we were able to complete the project without having to request additional funding and we were able to make donations to the causes of some of the volunteer groups in appreciation for their efforts.

The result is a project that people are proud of and feel ownership in.   It has demonstrated the power of a collection of people stirred by a common concern for our natural water resources and our larger environment.  The vision, the process, and the results are a tribute to all evolved.  You contribution was crucial to the project’s formation and success and we are extremely grateful for it.