Massawippi Rain Gardens
Let's keep it in our watershed
This summer, Bleu Massawippi will help you create your own rain garden. More details to come
The Massawippi Threatened
In July 2023, major flooding disrupted the daily lives of residents and visitors around Lake Massawippi. With rainfall increasing in frequency across the country as a result of climate change, it's important to think about the impact that our impervious areas (roofs, paved areas, etc.) have on the lake's water. In addition to sending a higher volume of water into the lake than in the past, excessive sediment and pollutant inputs threaten to further reduce water quality. With this in mind, Bleu Massawippi has decided to launch its new rain garden project.
What a rain garden is
A rain garden is a planted area adorned with grasses, flowers and shrubs. They are positioned to collect and retain rainwater from your property. Their composition, depth and location help filter rainwater runoff from impermeable areas of your property.
Aesthetically pleasing, rain gardens create a beneficial ecosystem for pollinators and greatly reduce the erosion of creek beds between your property and the lake. Thanks to you and your rain garden, fewer unwanted nutrients and other pollutants will enter the Massawippi, resulting in cleaner water and a clearer lake.
Why make one at home
Before your property was built, most rainwater fell and infiltrated as soon as it hit the ground. Now, that same volume of water hits impervious surfaces and spills out in large quantities, creating excessive water pressure on localized areas.
Many problems result from these changes, including overloading of the storm sewer system, excessive erosion of streambeds and reduced water quality in Lake Massawippi. A rain garden can play a crucial role on your property, reproducing the natural infiltration of water and thus limiting the consequences associated with the modification of your land.
How does it work?
Commonly referred to as bioretention areas, rain gardens absorb excess water and other nutrients through a depression filled with a soil mix that promotes water infiltration within 24 to 48 hours. Rain gardens can take many different forms, depending on such criteria as the size of your home, the number and configuration of gutters, the topography of the land, the composition of the soil in your area, and the amount of sunlight your property receives.
In the Lake Massawippi watershed, many areas that have been inhabited or modified by humans through deforestation, quarrying and urbanization contribute to the accumulation of sediment in watercourses and water treatment points. By installing a rain garden on your property, you'll save hundreds of thousands of liters of runoff water per year and add character to your grounds.
Credit: Habitatpresto