New Jersey Demonstration Rain Gardens ~
Rutgers University Equine Science Center

 

    Rutgers University Equine Science Center
    College Farm Road, New Brunswick, Middlesex County, New Jersey 08901

Google (TM) Map	Site Contact(s)	History	Runoff Managed
Installation	Plant Layout	Maintenance	Photographs

 

    Google (TM) Map:


View Larger Map
    Site Contact(s):
   
    Sean Walsh, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program
    
    History:

    Stormwater management continues to be a growing concern for equine facilities
    across the State of New Jersey.  State regulations are concerned that stormwater
    runoff from these operations is carrying nutrients and pathogens into local streams
    and lakes, thereby impairing the health of these waterways.  The paddocks that are
    adjacent to the Equine Science Center barns are one main area of concern.  The clean
    roof top stormwater runoff can be captured and routed around the paddock area,
    thereby eliminating clean water from running through the manure area and over bare
    soil.  But what about the rain water that actually falls on the paddock area?  Where
    does this water go and how can we do a better job of minimizing the impact of this
    runoff on local waterways?

    One of the paddocks at the Equine Science Center was retrofitted with rooftop
    infiltration trenches to divert the rooftop runoff around the paddock area.  However,
    the rain water that landed on the paddock area itself continued to wash soil and
    manure into a drainage ditch that discharged to a local stream, thereby threatening
    the health of this waterway.  


    Type of Runoff Managed:

    This rain garden was designed and built to capture and treat the stormwater runoff
    from the Equine Science Center paddock area.  


    Installation:

    Approximately five faculty, staff, and students from the Water Resources Program 
    were present for the installation of the rain garden in the Summer of 2007, which was
    approved by the Rutgers University Equine Science Center. Staff from Rutgers                 University Facilities and the Department of Animal Sciences provided additional                 assistance with installation.   A 10 foot wide by 50 foot long rain garden was                 designed and constructed, which included an underdrain system that connected to         the previously constructed rooftop infiltration trench system.  A sandy soil mix with a     10 to 15 percent organic content was used.


    Plant Layout:

    Rain Garden Map

    Plant List:

        Arrowwood Viburnum
        Inkberry Holly
        Soft Rush
        Switchgrass
        Virginia Sweetspire
        Winterberry Holly

    Click here to download Adobe Reader to view the rain garden map and the plant list
    fact sheets.
 
    Maintenance:
   
    The rain garden is maintained by the Rutger Cooperative Extension Water Resources
    Program.


    Photographs:

    Click here for photographs of the Rutgers University Equine Science Center rain
    garden.