Potential<\/em>\u00a0allows visitors to learn about the rain garden project\u00a0and complete a brief survey to help the research team understand public awareness and perceptions of rain gardens.<\/p>\nUnder the supervision of Assistant Professor of Earth Sciences Kelly Biagi, Taylor is monitoring rainfall, infiltration, soil moisture, water movement, soil and water chemistry and vegetation establishment under real-world conditions at the rain gardens installed downtown.<\/p>\n
\u201cRain gardens have tremendous potential as a nature-based approach to stormwater management, but we need to better understand how they perform under real-world conditions,\u201d Biagi says. \u201cLindsay\u2019s research is helping bridge that gap by generating the field-based evidence municipalities need to make informed decisions about green infrastructure. This project also demonstrates what can be achieved when university research and community partnerships come together.\u201d<\/p>\n
The project has been supported by Niagara Community Foundation (NCF) and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, whose funding helped make installation of the rain gardens possible.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday is a beautiful expression of what happens when the community comes together. This summer taught us that flooding impacts us all and so the research will inform municipalities on how to prevent what happened this summer from ever hopefully happening again,\u201d says Bryan Rose, NCF\u2019s Executive Director.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs many of us know, intense rainfall and flooding have become a growing concern in communities across the region. These events can affect homes, businesses and public spaces, creating real challenges for residents,\u201d says Pallvi Arora, Branch Manager for the TD branch on Queen Street, St. Catharines. \u201cWhat makes this project so exciting is that it brings together community partners, research and volunteers to explore practical, nature-based solutions that can help manage stormwater and build more resilient neighbourhoods. We are especially encouraged that the research from this project may provide valuable insights that can help inform future stormwater management approaches for residents and communities beyond St. Catharines.\u201d<\/p>\n
Alongside Brock researchers, students and the University\u2019s Facilities Management and Machine Shop teams, the project has also garnered support from the City of St. Catharines, 1st St. Catharines Girl Guides, Meridian Centre, Niagara Artists Centre, Niagara College, Niagara Green Herons, Off Campus Niagara, Silver Spire Church, St. Catharines Downtown Association,\u00a0the PAC and Walker Industries.<\/p>\n
The project has already uncovered an important lesson for Taylor.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don’t always have to wait for somebody else to begin,\u201d she says. \u201cWe can also look at the place immediately in front of us and ask: What can we do here? Potential exists within us, too \u2014 in our curiosity, our willingness to care, our courage to begin and our responsibility to consider what our actions might set in motion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t