To access this work you must either be on the Smith College campus OR have valid Smith login credentials.
On Campus users: To access this work if you are on campus please Select the Download button.
Off Campus users: To access this work from off campus, please select the Off-Campus button and enter your Smith username and password when prompted.
Non-Smith users: You may request this item through Interlibrary Loan at your own library.
Publication Date
2014
Document Type
Honors Project
Department
Engineering
Keywords
Rain gardens-Massachusetts-Northampton-Design, Sustainable design, Storm water retention basins, Environmental engineering, Green infrastructure, Stormwater, Smith College. Ziskind House
Abstract
In the last decade green infrastructure has been normalized in designs ranging from permeable pavers for driveways, to green roofs for skyscrapers. Rain gardens, generally planted depressions which flood during storms, offer a relatively low-tech green infrastructure option that can be affordable and effective at cleaning runoff from storms. When this runoff is left untreated, it flows to rivers, potentially damaging the riparian ecosystem. This report presents a design of a rain garden for the western side of Ziskind House at Smith College in Northampton MA. In this site a rain garden is especially beneficial because it can be used as a learning tool for students and as a case study in green infrastructure for the college. The final design consists of layers of gravel, filter fabric, and soil, all covered with mulch and planted with native trees, shrubs, ferns, and wildflowers. The use of native plants means that the original topsoil could be used by adding compost instead of importing all new planting soil. This cost saving measure means that with a $10,000 budget, the rain garden could be amply planted, cover 1000 sqft, and store a volume of water equivalent to the 10-year, 24-hour design storm.
Language
English
Recommended Citation
Signell, Julia Elizabeth, "Design of a rain garden for Ziskind House" (2014). Honors Project, Smith College, Northampton, MA.
https://scholarworks.smith.edu/theses/73
Smith Only:
Off Campus Download
Comments
29 pages : color illustrations, map. Honors project-Smith College, 2014. Includes bibliographical references (page 25)