Storm Water Management
Soil Testing in Cuyahoga CountySoil Testing:
How do you soil test? Getting a good representative sample is very important for obtaining a meaningful soil test report. Only 2 cups of soil are needed. Collect soil anywhere from 0-6" deep from different sections of the area (lawn or garden) you want tested. Label all plastic bags with the area you collected from and drop of the sample with your name, address, phone number and payment to: Cuyahoga County Water Quality Lab 6100 West Canal Raod Valley View, OH 44125 (north door) Make checks payable to Cuyahoga Treasurer c/o Sanitary Engineering Division For more information, contact Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation District at 216.524.6580 x 17
Now Sprouting Everywhere: Rain GardensA Great Looking Landscape Feature that Raises Watershed Awareness!A rain garden is an attractive, landscaped area planted with perennial native plants which don't mind getting "wet feet." Rain gardens enhance the beauty of individual yards and communities and provide habitat and food for wildlife. Homeowners wishing to take action in their own backyards can help relieve some of the issues related to rain water by installing a rain garden. Rain gardens are easy to build in just a few hours and they are easy to maintain. A good spot in your yard is a must and, in addition to the plants, you probably need to purchase or mix your own amended soil to allow the rain garden to function properly. Native perennial plants, either grasses or flowering plants, can be used and your garden can be designed to reflect your personal landscaping tastes. Sidewalks, roads, rooftops, and lawns, do not allow the rainwater to soak into the ground, which could help to reduce some of the impact. Rain gardens restore the land's ability to soak up some of the storm water--one garden at a time. Rain gardens are now being designed and built around the nation and in your own backyard. Here in Cuyahoga County, local garden clubs, environmental clubs, volunteers and homeowners have already installed rain gardens in Berea, Euclid, Independence, Lyndhurst, Richmond Heights, Soth Euclid, and Walton Hills. Easy to follow instructions, including a list of native plant species and the supplies needed for building your rain garden, can be found on the Cuyahoga Soil and Water Conservation's website at www.cuyahogaswcd.org. Basic supplies and equipment include shovels, rakes, wheel barrow, soil mix, mulch, weed barrier, native plants, and good friends to help out.
Woody Vegetation for your landscape-Beauty and Function What role does woody vegetative cover, in contrast with other types of land cover, play in the cycle of flooding, erosion, and sedimentation? This question has long been pondered by soil conservationists, foresters, meteorologists, as well as civil engineers. While a complete and satisfying answer to this question cannot yet be made, some facts are clear. Among them is the fact that woody vegetative cover promotes water quality by holding soil in place, providing additional soil water storage potential, and maintaining soil infiltration capapcity. The benefits of woody vegetative cover on soil function and soil erosion are increasingly recognized in urban areas from coast to coast. For example, in 2001, the city of Salem, Oregan completed an "Urban Ecosytem Analysis" which included a green data layer of classified land cover to determine the relative health of watersheds and repairing corridors. This is because impervious surface and woody-vegetative cover are directly related to watershed function and water quality-part of the city's responsibilities under the Clean Water Act. In Northeat Ohio, communities are increasingly turning to the use of setbacks (naturally vegetated land along streams, rivers, or wetlands) in order to maintain riparian and wetland function, address water quality concerns, and minimize stream bank erosion and flood damage that are directly affected by land use of the flood plains and by structural and cultural practices that are improperly designed or located. Woody vegetative cover does not only serve as a function of stormwater management, it creats a beautiful, aesthetic element to your landscape. It has been reported that over 250 bird species have been sighted within Cuyahoga County, and planting woody vegetation could potentially attract these species to your own backyard! Planting woody vegetation can reduce stormwater runoff and aid with water quality. Clean Water Starts with you!
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