The Westmoreland Conservation District and Stormwater Trail

On Tuesday, May 15, 2013, I attended the web conference, "Smart Stormwater Retrofitting in the Urban Environment". While a lot of the topic discussed was aimed at the urban planner, I was able to come away with some ideas and names of groups who may be able to assist Indiana Borough in dealing with our stormwater runoff problem.

If you click on the photos, they will enlarge. This will enable you to read the signs.

The Westmoreland Conservation District is housed in a reclaimed old barn near the Westmoreland Mall. The grounds include many excellent examples of "eco" friendly things that be done by an individual and by a community.

The Ann Rudd Saxman Nature Park includes gardens and a discovery trail and loop.

The Richard E. Thorn Memorial Garden.

As part of the Richard E. Thorn Memorial Garden, there is an herb garden.

The Backyard Composting Demonstration Site shows all of the various ways a person can do composting.

There are two examples of types of ways of generating electricity using renewable resources.

The solar panels are a 2,100 watt array that generates 6.5 kwh/day. Annually this array prevents: 5,283 pounds of CO2, 15 pounds of NOx, 9 pounds of SO2, 2,006 gallons of waste water.

The windmill has a tower height of 120 feet. It produces 13.5 kwh/day. Annually the windmill prevents: 10,972 pounds of CO2, 32 pounds of NOx, 19 pounds of SO2, 4,170 gallons of waste water.

The Westmoreland Conservation District has a Stormwater Trail with 16 sign posts. Fourteen of the sign posts are places where the Westmoreland Conservation District has created ways to deal with stormwater runoff. Once a person reads the sign post, they can see an example of what is written on the sign post.
The following set of photos are of the signposts and what the examples that were created.

"Walk this trail, help the water."

"Hold it!." This sign describes the 'water cycle'.

"Would you love to have a beautiful garden without very much work or expense?"

"Pollution from a parking lot?" This sign post shows how typically used paving materials are bad for the environment.

"Is there a way to park and not (really) pollute?" In the following three photos are examples of ways to create car parks using 'eco' friendly pavers and materials.

These are mesh grids with loose gravel spread over the grids. The mesh grid helps prevent the gravel from washing away in a hard rain.

These are mesh grids with loose gravel spread over the grids. The mesh grid helps prevent the gravel from washing away in a hard rain.

"Turn your roof water into a nature hike (and save money, too)."

"Roof water makes a rain garden."

"Why is there a hot-dog-shaped pond here?" This sign post shows how to create a retention swale without much work. The plants that grow in this retention swale were provided by nature.

"There's a Titanic-size treasure buried here (and it's awfully wet...)." This sign post shows how underground water storage of rainwater can be built. The old-fashioned water pump provides a way for a person to access the water in the storage tank.

"Did you know your backyard is a super sponge?"

"When is detention a good thing?"

"Buildings that blend with nature." This sign post shows how walls can be built that keep down erosion and 'blend' in with the surrounding terrain.

"A mudroom for stormwater."

"Roof water also makes a roof garden."

"Concrete doesn't always mean solid." This sign posts shows a type of concrete that is permeable.

"A flower bed that waters the ground." This sign post illustrates how to create a retention swale that has a garden planted inside of it.