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Bioretention Cells
Rain Garden

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View a poster about the bioretention cells at Pine Tree Brook!

'Want to make a bioretention cell that suits your needs? A Rain garden is an alternative and particularly functional type of garden built to deal with water in the yard. A rain garden collects water and uses it to grow plants, be absorbed by the soil, or evaporate into the air. The water may come from a downspout leading from the roof, from high water levels in the yard, or as runoff from your driveway or patio. Creating a rain garden is also a great way to spruce up your property with colorful native flowers, butterflies and birds. 

Learn more!

 

The bioretention cell in this cell was photographed shortly after it was planted by the Neponset River Watershed Association, Milton Department of Public Works, and Pine Tree Brook abutters. The biocell is located along Pine Tree Brook in Milton, Massachusetts.

 

Bioretention Cells

Battling Pollution

Removing Water Pollution through Low Impact Development ("LID")

The Neponset River Watershed Association has been working with the Milton Department of Public Works over the last several y ears to improve water quality within Pine Tree Brook, via a variety of methods. The Pine Tree Brook Neighborhood Association also has mobilized community members to help with this project. 

Bioretention cells have been built along the stretch of Pine Tree Brook between Blue Hills Parkway and Thacher Street to catch and filter street runoff (also called "surface water") from adjacent streets. Originally, this polluted water was piped directly into the brook from catchbasins in the street. This process caused the brook to deteriorate. Now, water from the underground pipes has been diverted into the bioretention cells to be filtered, cooled-down, and slowed-down before it enters Pine Tree Brook. Below is photograph of one of the Pine Tree Brook biocells, taken in fall 2009. View more pictures. Learn more about bioretention cells.

A bioretention cell is located at the edge of a trail along Pine Tree Brook in Milton, MA. The biocell was constructed through a partnership of the Neponset River Watershed Association and the Town of Milton, MA.

What is the deal with street "runoff"?

Contaminants from daily life pollute street runoff. For example, runoff contains products from the burning of fuel, fertilizers and herbicides from lawns, ice-melting materials from sidewalks, sand, and seepage from people's garbage cans. Street runoff is also thermally polluted; it's been warmed-up by its travels over dark-colored driveways, streets and roofs. Also, water that's run over streets, sidewalks, grass ("turf"), and then through pipes - travels quickly. See how each of these characteristics of runoff affects a brook, below.

If a brook's pollution levels get high enough, certain aquatic species can completely die out. As one species vanishes, others follow; they are all inter-related in the food web. Ultimately, the natural system of the brook becomes increasingly deteriorated.

Fast-moving water entered a brook over the ground or through a pipe can erode the stream's banks. In turn, this clouds the water, clogs the gills of stream-bottom insects, makes it harder for aquatic wildlife to move around, feed or interact with one another, and damages the eggs of fish and aquatic insects. Every component of an aquatic system is important to the health of a stream. So, when one species is hurt by poor water quality, so are the other species - and the stream, as whole.

Warmed water has less oxygen than usual. This can stress - and eventually kill - aquatic wildlife. Dissolved oxygen is important for breathing -

Learn more about stream and river ecology.

Now that you understand why the filtering action of bioretention cells is so beneficial for streams, let's get back to what NepRWA and its project partners have done along Pine Tree Brook.

Most recently, NepRWA, the DPW and PTBNA worked together to beautify one of the streamside bioretention cells. In early September 2006, a crew of employees from the DPW and NepRWA, members of PTBNA, and other Milton residents planted a bioretention cell with Joe-Pye weed, Arkansas bluestar, Steeplebush, Feather reed grass, New England aster, Blue flag iris and Coreopsis. These plants are showy, hardy species, and many are native to New England. They were chosen because of their ability to tolerate the extreme growing conditions of the bioretention cells - periods of saturated soils and standing water, extended periods of dryness, pollutants from street runoff, etc. See plant pictures above and below. In spring 2007, the rest of the bioretention cells were planted. In addition to the plantings, stormdrain markers and other signage were posted in the vicinity of the brook to help neighbors keep local water clean.

If you have walked by the bioretention cells, you may have noticed that they are filled with an assortment of wildflowers, sedges, rushes and grasses. Some of these plants originated from seed mixtures spread during the project, while others were a result of seeds already in the soil or those carried by the wind or via wildlife. Some plants you may have seen include Jewelweed, Milkweed, Boneset, Indian blanket, Black-eyed Susans, Smartweed, Pokeweed, Burdock, Common evening-primrose, Chicory, Coreopsis, Yellow wood sorrel, Japanese knotweed, Purple loosestrife, and thistle, among others.

To learn more about this project, contact Carly Rocklen at rocklen@neponset.org or 781-575-0354 x303. Contact Dick Russell at 617-696-3751 to find out more about the Pine Tree Brook Neighborhood Association.

Pictures of bioretention cell plants:

 

Joe-Pye weed has eye-catching flowers that are loved by humans AND by bees and butterflies like Giant swallowtails, Spicebush swallowtails, Tiger swallowtails, Zebra swallowtails, Greater fritillaries, and Gulf fritillaries

Boneset, providing food already! Butterflies love this plant, too.

This beautiful yellow flower sprouted from the application of a seed mixture, this past spring. Is it a Black-eyed Susan? A species of Coreopsis?

Sweetfern provides cover for small wildlife and ground-dwelling birds. Deer and rabbits browse its leaves and stems. And, the leaves smell great when rubbed between your fingers!

Webpage updated July 2008.