New bioswale filters stormwater at Symphony Village

New bioswale filters stormwater at Symphony Village

By KONRAD SUROWIEC Staff Writer

Published: Wednesday, June 10, 2009 4:17 AM CDT

CENTREVILLE A recently completed stormwater management project in the Symphony Village community is designed to improve stormwater quality and reduce soil erosion. It's practical and it looks good, say local residents.

A drainage channel was built behind homes on Overture Way to carry stormwater runoff to a wetlands area, which borders a branch of Mill Stream, a tributary of the Corsica River. Called a bioswale, the channel features stones and rocks and two rain gardens with native plants. The bioswale "filters and slows down" the stormwater, "plus it's going to look so pretty," said Cass Smith, who lives on Overture Way with her husband, Ed Smith.

Cass Smith said it took about a month for workers from International Landscaping & Design to build the bioswale, but the preparation and planning for the job began more than a year ago. She said it was a cooperative effort involving Symphony Village residents, the Corsica River Conservancy, the Town of Centreville; and Caruso Homes, the developer of Symphony Village. The bioswale and rain gardens were designed by Denis Radford and Ashley Kidner.

"It's good the community supports this kind of thing," said Smith.

Rain gardens are also catching on big among Symphony Village residents. Smith said 35 rain gardens have been planted in the community and about 45 more are planned. A rain garden temporarily stores waters after heavy rains, reducing the amount of stormwater runoff that washes sediment and pollutants into streams. The Smiths and their neighbors, Mike and Maggie Crosswhite, share a rain garden that was planted behind their homes. Debbie Pusey, a member of the Corsica River Conservancy, was instrumental in convincing Symphony Village residents to put in rain gardens. Some residents resisted the idea at first, but changed their minds, said Maggie Crosswhite.

"When they started seeing how nice they were, a lot of the 'noes' turned to 'yeses,'" said Crosswhite.

Before the bioswale was built the runoff behind Overture Way was fast and furious, enough to ride a kayak after a big storm, joked Smith.

"Now, it's going to be a focal point point for out community. This is beyond our expectations," she said.

Before Symphony Village was built, the site was farmland and open fields, said Smith. She said the impervious surface from the development "impacts the health of the Corsica River and the watershed." Smith said residents want to do their part to improve water quality and leave a positive legacy.

http://www.carusohomes.com

http://www.symphonyvillage.com