Focus Watershed: Town Branch of South Elkhorn Creek

The Oak Park Area of the Town Branch Creek is a fully urbanized watershed. The urban development of this watershed spans the entire history of Lexington and exemplifies an era when urban development had little to no regard for regulations for environmental or watershed protection. As a result of this development model, the Town Branch is identified as an impaired stream on the 2008 Integrated Report to Congress on the Condition of Water Resources in Kentucky (Volume II. 303(d) list of surface waters).  Pollutants in the watershed have been identified as pathogens, nutrient / eutrophication biological indicators, Fecal Coliform and organic enrichment (sewage), biological indicators from channelization and urban storm water.

A rain garden will be constructed on the Providence Montessori School’s campus.  This project is part of a comprehensive approach for a more sustainable and greener campus.  Currently, the outdoor classroom experience includes a butterfly garden and a Native American Organic vegetable garden that promotes an attitude of stewardship for the Earth

The development of this rain garden on the School’s five-acre site will have farther reaching benefits than those associated within the Town Branch watershed.  The primary goal for this project will serve as an educational tool for K-6 graders on-campus and 7-8 graders off-campus outreach program.  In addition to the education of our next generation, Providence Montessori School serves a national resource for Montessori teacher training. An emphasis will be placed on educating school aged children, their parents, teachers in training, visitors and public officials as to the benefits of rain gardens for storm water quality.  The design, construction, and maintenance of the educational demonstration rain garden will include a significant volunteer effort and will be a student driven project.

The secondary goal of this project is to reduce the environmental impacts of storm water runoff from impervious hardscape through the implementation of specific elements and design schemes that encourage rainfall purification and ground infiltration.  Future campus-wide initiatives include replacing impervious parking lots with porous pavement, replacing traditional roofing with green roofs and rain water harvesting for campus reuse.