Louisburg Rain Garden Environmental Restoration Program
PTRF volunteers, in collaboration with the Franklin County Division of Soil and Water Conservation, and the Cooperative Extension constructed a 250 square foot rain garden to treat polluted stormwater runoff from the rooftop of a day care facility this month.
A rain garden, or bioretention cell, is a shallow depression that is planted with native plants and grasses that can survive in both dry and wet conditions. The rain garden allows polluted rainwater runoff from impervious urban areas (roofs, driveways, parking lots, etc.) the opportunity to be absorbed and filtered by rock and sand. This reduces polluted runoff to surface waters which can cause erosion, water pollution, flooding and less groundwater recharge.
Not only is a rain garden a nice landscape feature, but a functional asset for protection of our water resources.
Environmental Restoration Program
PTRF recently launched its new Environmental Restoration Program to implement some projects that will benefit water quality and increase fisheries and wildlife habitat within the Tar-Pamlico, Roanoke, and Chowan river basins.
The environmental restoration is not solely focused on projects that will directly impact water quality or habitat. PTRF is currently seeking funding to implement a series of campsites and camping platforms along the Tar River between Rocky Mount and Washington. To date, PTRF has secured funding for building the first platform. This project will enable recreational paddlers to have overnight facilities along the river as they enjoy the bountiful natural resources along the river on a short overnight or longer thru-paddle of the river.
Stay tuned for more updates on grant funding and projects planned and implemented by PTRF’s Environmental Restoration Program by emailing Richard Andrews at richard@ptrf.org.
