UrbanDesign 101
Are you interested in sustainable landscapearchitecture, gardening,
andwildlife?You canuseHabitat Network tomappervious and
impervious surfaces around your homeor schoolyardand identify
areas for improvement. Habitat Network canhelp you learnnew skills
and support plants, animals, andwater quality inPuget Sound. Check
it out at cityhabitats.org/habitatnetwork.
ScavengerHunt!
Takeawalkaroundyour neighborhood– canyoufind the
followingnature-based solutions topolluted runoff?
Love Letter
toyour favorite tree,
parkor bodyofwater
Inaddition to cleaningwater, natureoffersopportunities to improveour
lives. It’sour humanhabitat, and it’s everywhere! Peoplewho spend time
aroundnature, likewalkingby a raingardenor downa street with trees,
arehappier andhealthier. Even small amountsof nature canhavean
impact. Howdo you feel when youareoutside–happy, excited, or chill?
Do youhavea favoritepark?What about a favoritenatural feature– like
a tree, flower, or stream? Takeapictureorwritea letter about it!Where
is it?What do you likeabout it?Howdo you feel when youarearound it?
Post your pictureor letter onFacebookor Instagramwith#cityhabitats
and tag@conserve_waandwemight share it! Findoutmoreabout how
naturebenefitspeopleat cityhabitats.org/outsideourdoors.
Next timeyouareoutside, look forwhat
happens to runoff inyour community!
Hereare some things to look for:
Trees—
wheredo you find trees
in your neighborhood?Do you
think thereareenoughof them?
Thenearest stormdrain to your
apartment or house.
Is thiswhere thewater from your
drivewayor rooftopgoes?Where
do you think thisdrain leads?
Thenearest stream, creek, river,
lakeor pond towhere you live.
If youdon’t see it, try lookingon
Googlemaps!
Wheredoes thewater come
from?Howdoes it get there?
Something thatmight collect
andhold, or slowdown runoff.
Oil stainsor puddleson the
ground from leaky vehicles.
Stormdrainsmarkedwitha sign
that says “Drains toStream”or
“Puget SoundStartsHere”
Something thatmight get carried
by thewater as it runsoff into
the street.
Wherewould it endup?
Raingarden —
doanyhomesor nearby
buildings have raingardens?What about
theareasbetween sidewalks and the street
–do you seeany raingardens there?
Perviouspavement —
can you findanyof
thenew special
pavement that lets
water flow through
it?Can you findany
unnecessarypavement
that couldbe removed
to let water absorb
into theground?
Rainbarrel—
do you seeany
homesor buildingswithbarrels
collectingwater from roof gutters?
Nativeplant or garden—
do you
seeanygardens that aremadeof
nativeplants (plants that naturally
occur here) or areused togrow
fruits and vegetables?
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WEDNESDAY,
OCTOBER5, 2016
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