The quality of water and stormwater control in the South Grand River Watershed got a little boost recently when eighth grade students in science classes taught by Mendy Brewington, teacher at the Raymore Peculiar Middle School, 20501 School Road, Peculiar, Missouri installed a rain garden.

Students learned that a rain garden functions to reduce flooding problems, to keep pollutants out of stormwater systems, and to provide
beauty to the landscape and habitat for a number of species such as birds and butterflies.

They also learned that it is important to use native plants because the long densely rooted natives slow the stormwater runoff, filter it and store it for slow release into the ground. The eighth graders participated in nearly all the decisions about the rain garden—they researched the plants to determine which were appropriate for a rain garden in mostly sunny conditions and worked together to develop the list of native grasses, flowers and shrubs that would be planted and where they would be placed in the rain garden. Soil and percolation tests were conducted by the students prior to planting to classify the soil and determine whether the soil needed any amendments such as sand.

After all the research was completed, 250 plants were ordered and delivered. Then the big day arrived for the planting to begin. Everyone knew how to proceed and within a couple of days, the plants were in the ground. But the work (fun) wasn’t over. Nine cubic yards of mulch had to be spread over the 925 square foot rain garden for a depth of three or four inches. Eighth grade students taught by Mike Phillips lent a hand with this task.

This was not only a learning project for the eighth graders—it was also intended to be a learning experience for their parents. Students took home a pre rain garden test to assess the knowledge their parents had about rain gardens and their functions. Now that the rain garden is complete a post-rain garden test will be sent home to assess the change in knowledge that has occurred as a result of the eighth grade students discussing the project at home.

The rain garden project resulted when the South Grand River Watershed Alliance applied for a grant through Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) that would be used

for educational purposes related to nonpoint source pollution. The grant project was to be educational for the local community with school rain garden projects one of the recommendations.

It is hoped that the rain garden these students installed will serve as a model and inspiration for the installation of other rain gardens throughout the community. Everyone who makes a rain garden a part of their landscape will be contributing to improved water quality and less flood damage.

On Thursday, October 11 at 7:00 p.m., a South Grand River Watershed program featuring a Stormwater presentation by Tim Rielly, Missouri Department of Natural Resources will be held at the Lions Community Center, 500 Schug Avenue, Peculiar, Missouri. Also featured will be a presentation by four eighth grade students about the Ray-Pec Middle School rain garden project. Rain garden posters and other visuals created by the students will be on display too. The public is invited to this event. For more program details, go to www.southgrandwatershed.com