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Tenleytown Main Street (TMS), in partnership with the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) and DOEE, completed construction of a Low Impact Development (LID) green stormwater retrofit project at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Warren Avenue NW. This stormwater retrofit project will reduce nonpoint source pollution loads entering Rock Creek with the goal of improving overall water quality in the District.
The installation removes excess impervious surface and replaces it with two enhanced in-ground bioretention cells and a permeable pavement walkway. Biochar was incorporated into bioretention media to increase infiltration capacity, carbon sequestration, and toxin removal. The installation will retain approximately 6700 gallons of stormwater per rain event from a contributing drainage area of 18,707 square feet (16,761 impervious) . Construction was substantially completed in November 2024 with vegetation planting scheduled for spring, 2025.
The BMP 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 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 flow into it, clearing overflows of debris so they can function during larger storm events, and sustaining the vegetative cover by weeding, mowing, and pruning as needed.
Project Status: This project is now complete.