Bioswales

Bioswales are sunken areas of plantings that collect stormwater runoff from roofs, streets, and sidewalks that are designed to slow down rainwater through a curving or linear path to a drain, while also allowing some (but not all) of it to infiltrate.

Wharton Hall Bioswale

The Wharton Hall Bioswale was created in the spring of 2016 and it was the first bioswale to be created on campus. This bioswale has a sunken areas filled with river rocks in order to catch rainwater from near by roofs and slowly direct water to the near-by drain. The bioswale currently has a massive buttonbush, 7 beautyberry bushes, native grasses, and irises in the planted in the area that also makes this a great pollinator habitat. 

Urban Cajun Prairie / Bioswale

The bioswale, was planted in fall 2016 and later expanded out to include a Urban Cajun Prairie in 2017. This was the second Bioswale to be planted on campus. Read more about the Urban Cajun Prairie/ Bioswale here.

Judice Rickels Bioswale / Pollinator Garden

Judice Rickels Bioswale / Pollinator Garden is planned to be planted in the Fall Semester of 2023. Plans include relocating existing limestone rocks to an eroded area of the coulee and bringing in new river rocks better suited to hold water, similar to the Wharton Hall Bioswale. After the rocks are removed we will grade a sucken area in the middle, bring the new rocks in, install plants according to the landscape plan, finish the beds with natural mulch, and install an educational sign.