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In 2014 DOEE, in partnership with the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, installed a bioretention and educational signage next to the zoo’s Speedwell Foundation Conservation Carousel. The bioretention receives drainage from 0.6 acres, primarily from the impervious surface of the Olmstead Walk. This site is in the Lower Rock Creek watershed, a subwatershed of the Potomac River which has a drainage area of approximately 1,603 acres.
This project involves the use of green stormwater infrastructure to reduce the quantity of stormwater runoff and improve the water quality prior to it reaching Rock Creek.
The green stormwater infrastructure utilized in this project is called a Bioretention system. A Bioretention is a vegetated stormwater management system that mimics the natural environment to reduce stormwater volumes and pollutants for the purpose of restoring our streams and rivers.
A bioretention provides the following benefits:
- Reduces stormwater runoff
- Slows stormwater flows
- Removes stormwater pollutants
- Provides habitat for birds, bees, and other pollinators
- Improves air quality
- Reduces air temperatures
By capturing stormwater and by treating the pollutants stormwater carries, a bioretention helps protect and restore our streams and rivers.
How is a Bioretention Maintained?
Routine maintenance is necessary for all stormwater management practices. Routine maintenance for a bioretention includes cleaning out the inlets to ensure that stormwater can get into it, making sure overflows are free and clear of debris so that they can function during larger storm events, sustaining the vegetative cover by weeding/mowing/pruning as needed.
The Smithsonian National Zoological Park Retrofit project reduces stormwater runoff and pollution, prevents erosion, restores natural hydrology, and increases natural habitat in the Rock Creek watershed and improves the water quality in the Potomac River for the benefit of District residents, visitors, wildlife and the environment.
This project involves the use of green infrastructure stormwater management to reduce the quantity of stormwater runoff and improve the water quality prior to it reaching Rock Creek.
Project Status: This project is complete.
