In early October, students and young professionals from the Water Environment Federation (WEF) constructed a new bioswale for the Holy Cross Project to help manage storm water runoff while removing silt and pollution – since the site is prone to some flooding during heavy rainfall (i.e. “severe wet weather occurrences”). The group organized this special project, in coordination with Global Green and Groundwork New Orleans as part of a community service project to benefit the Lower Ninth Ward while in New Orleans for WEFTEC® 2010, the world’s largest annual water quality conference and exhibition.

PHOTO: Darryl Malek-Wiley

During the event, volunteers planted several wetland and wet-weather species, including spartina, horsetail, irises, cattails, red maple trees, cypress trees, and huckleberry.

Bioswale Construction: The site had been prepped and excavated prior to the volunteers’ arrival on Saturday. Archer Western Alberici along with Bottom Line Equipment, Storm Hunger Hauling and Delta Mining cleared and excavated the site and mixed the top soil used for the bioswale. When volunteers arrived, they first dug trenches and placed perforated pipe bundles designed to serve as underground water retention and collection. These areas were then backfilled with gravel and will operate as dry streams. The areas around the dry streams were filled with the top soil mix and then planted and mulched.

Thanks to all the volunteers who worked to construct this important addition as part of the “Bioswales in the Bayou” event. Nearly a month later, everything looks great!