Another exciting new project by the Maryland Green Infrastructure team is wrapping up. Located just north of Baltimore, a stormwater best management practice was installed to reduce the impacts of runoff. The Alliance installed two bioretention cells on the property of Fallston Presbyterian Church in Harford County. Bioretention areas are landscaped depressions that treat stormwater flowing into the practice from impervious surfaces, like sidewalks and paved roads, by collecting water and allowing it to infiltrate slowly through the ground below.

The runoff from the nearby road, parking lot, and downspouts from the buildings resulted in 5,628 cubic feet of water flowing into the lower part of the property during a 10-inch storm event, which negatively impacted the church’s ability to use the area as an outdoor worship space.

To reduce the impacts of runoff, the two bioretention cells were constructed at the bottom edge of the parking lot to capture runoff and allow it to infiltrate into the soil. A part of bioretention cell construction includes native plants, like Butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa), Gardenview Scarlet beebalm (Monarda didyma), and String Theory bluestar (Amsonia), to name a few, to help further infiltrate water into the soil. The project was constructed over a two-week period in early summer, right before the Mid-Atlantic region received many heavy rainstorms.

Like many others, the project could not have occurred without collaboration between many of our passionate partners. The Alliance’s role was connecting and supporting all the moving pieces and organizations involved in this project. Fallston Presbyterian Church and Fallston Community Pre-K, where the project took place. Several members of the congregation and Fallston Community Pre-K are the reason this project has been a success. Through community outreach events, like a special Earth Day service, a native plant giveaway, and painting the rain barrels by the Pre-K students, the congregation has gotten on board with this project and wants to continue seeing its success.

a painted blue rain barrel in a garden

A painted rain barrel that was installed as part of this project painted by the Pre-K students, featuring a monarch chrysalis on the rim, with the newly-constructed bioretention cells in the background.

Harford County Department of Public Works Watershed Protection and Restoration Division and the Chesapeake Bay Trust provided funding via an Outreach and Restoration grant. Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake for supporting the creation of a church “green team.” Great Blue Co. was the contractor for this project and did a wonderful job. They additionally communicated with the church community on watering and maintenance needs to ensure plant survival.

Top, pre-construction site conditions. Water from the parking lot flowed straight over the grass and settled in the garden space near the back of the image creating a soggy garden space. Bottom, one of the constructed bioretention cells featuring native plants throughout, rain barrels on the right to capture rainfall from the pavilion’s roof, and an underdrain on the left side of the image. To assist in water-infiltrating efficiently, an underdrain assists by pulling the water out of the system and releasing it nearby gradually.

Within a few weeks of the construction’s completion, copious numbers of monarch butterfly caterpillars began appearing on the butterfly milkweed that had been planted. They were everywhere! At our final site visit, chrysalises were hanging from a nearby pavilion, the edges of the rain barrels, and a preschool playhouse. Some were even crawling around in preparation to transform into chrysalis just in time for the start of the Pre-K school year. Other pollinators were also present in the area. What was once a grassy area that would become swampy anytime it rained is now a place that attracts pollinators, allowing the church community to gather, while also helping the land become more resilient to runoff and healthier.

Learn more about monarchs

Support the Alliance’s efforts