These rain gardens capture, store, and absorb stormwater runoff created by rain that falls on the property’s impervious roof and patio. The rain garden may look from the surface like a depressed bowl with landscaping, but there are many layers you can’t see that filter the water from storm events. Stormwater flows into the gardens and passes through layers of soil, mulch, and organic materials, filtered at every stage, and ultimately recharging the aquifer beneath with clean water. The native plants in the gardens are adapted to local conditions, need less (or no) fertilizer or pesticides, and provide habitat for local wildlife, particularly pollinators like native bees and butterflies.

We removed an unused 4,000-square foot piece of the building to make room for these two rain gardens. Instead of an impervious structure, these rain gardens now host native flora and fauna, as well as human neighbors in our green gathering space adjacent to the gardens.

A lot (pun intended) is going on under the surface of this pervious parking lot. While you only see one layer of recycled concrete and grass surface, there are actually five layers underneath (including native soils, rock, washed gravel, sand, and pavers with topsoil to support grass growth), each designed to capture and filter stormwater.

The parking lot is designed to capture the rainwater that falls on it while reducing our area’s heat island effect and enhancing neighborhood green space. This surface is structurally sound for heavy vehicles, alleviating a common barrier for property owners and town planners. Prior to the construction of this pervious parking lot, this space was degraded, impervious asphalt. Impervious surfaces like parking lots contribute to pollutants in our creeks and rivers from runoff during rain events.

Eight rain barrels capture rainwater off our roof from downspouts, preventing runoff with pollutants from rain events from flowing over impervious surface and entering into local waterways. While we direct the water from our rain barrels into our rain gardens or pervious parking lot (so the water is ultimately used for watering the plantings or is filtered and absorbed), rain barrel owners can also store and use this rainwater during dry periods to irrigate their food gardens and other landscaping, saving both energy and water usage.

Rain barrels are among the most accessible and cost-effective ways a property- or homeowner can “go green” and are easy to maintain and install. The Chesapeake Bay Trust, in partnership with several local governments in the region, administers grants to install rain barrels just like these.

Spotlight on Solar

Our rooftop hosts a 48-kW photovoltaic solar array that generates approximately 65,000 kWh annually, fully meeting our energy needs and making the Chesapeake Bay Trust net-zero in energy use. Not all solar energy systems incorporate batteries, which allow storage of energy when the sun isn’t shining to even further reduce reliance on the grid. However, the Bay Trust took the step to install two batteries, charged directly from the solar panels, which provide 27 kWh of stored electricity for our use. Stop by when we’re open to view our energy production and consumption displayed in real time.

Science confirms that being outside in green spaces improves our mental and physical health. The Chesapeake Bay Trust supports outdoor green spaces at schools for students to learn outside, at hospitals for patients to heal outside, at workplaces for employees to take breaks outside, and throughout our communities, helping people connect with nature. We encourage our own staff to do the same right here at our Green Headquarters, where this outdoor space is designed for reflection, collaboration, and a breath of fresh air.