On the provided school map locate and mark the following characteristics:

Areas where water puddles and an approximate outline of the puddle area with solid lines.

Building downspouts with stars.

Storm drains with darkened square.
Evaluating Site Characteristics
1.
Are there downspouts draining directly onto impervious surfaces? Can the water easily be directed onto pervious surfaces? If so, how?
2.
Have you noticed downspouts that my release more water than others? Why do you think these downspouts have increased drainage? Mark these downspouts with highlighter.
Estimate drainage area for each downspout by measuring the length and width of the roof that drains through the downspout and calculate the area.
3.
Based on your observations, which areas do you suggest for a rain garden? Why do you suggest these areas?

On the map provided identify locations where you will gather soil samples.

Indicate locations with high sand content.

Indicate locations with high clay content.
Evaluating Soil Texture
1.
After collecting your soil samples, spread them out on a newspaper or paper plate to dry (if they are wet).
Remove all rocks, trash, roots, and other debris from the soil. Carefully pulverize the soil to remove any clumps or clods.
2.
Fill a graduated cylinder about ¼ full of soil and add water until the graduated cylinder is about ¾ full.
3.
Add two drops of non-foaming dishwasher detergent.
4.
Seal the top of the graduated cylinder with plastic wrap and tape and shake the graduate cylinder for 10 – 15 minutes. The shaking separates the soil into individual grains.
5.
Once the soil is in solution, place the graduated cylinder in a location where it can stay undisturbed for up to 3 days.
6.
Soil particles will settle out according to size. There is a clear differences in the appearances of the grains so you can see the layers, record the volume, and determine the percent composition. a.
After 1 minute, sand will settle out. b.
After 2 hours, silt will settle out. c.
When the water clears, silt has settled out.
This can take 1 to 3 days, but some soils can take weeks!
7.
Calculate the percentage of sand, silt, and clay in the soil sample.
8.
Use the Soil Triangle to determine the texture of the sample. Think about it – how does the amount of clay
and sand in the sample affect infiltration?
Based on your observations, which areas do you suggest for a rain garden? Why do you suggest these areas?

On the provided school map locate and mark the following characteristics:

High Spots on campus (if possible use a GPS to record elevation data)

Low spots on campus (if possible use a GPS to record elevation data)

Steep slopes

Flat areas
Evaluating Site Characteristics
1.
Describe the topography of the school campus. Are there any hills, valleys, or slopes?
2.
Identify rain garden sites based on slope by using the string method modeled by the University of Nebraska in the Rain Garden Challenge module.
Materials: wooden stakes, string, measuring tape, ruler, level
Directions
1.
Pound one stake in at the uphill end of your rain garden site. Then pound another stake at the downhill end about 10’ – 15’ away. Measure this distance. If the area has a steep slope or is very large you might measure the slope in smaller increment of 10’ each and then combine the information in the final
diagram.
2.
Tie a string to the bottom of the uphill stake and run the string to the downhill stake. Try to keep the string level.
3.
Using a string or carpenter’s level, level the string and secure it to both stakes. Simply wrapping the
string around the stake three or four times will keep it secure.
4.
Measure the distance on both stakes between the ground and string. Find the difference in the height of the string between the uphill and downhill stakes.
5.
Divide the height difference (step 4) by the width (step 1) and multiply by 100 to find the percent slope at the site.
3.
Based on topography, which areas do you suggest for a rain garden? Why do you suggest these areas?

On the provided school map locate and mark the following characteristics:

Areas of shade from existing trees

Trees and shrubs (identify plant species)

Areas of shade from buildings

Areas of full sun
Evaluating Site Characteristics
1.
Obtain aerial images of the school campus from sources like Google Earth. Use the images to estimate the sun and shade cover.
2.
Record air and soil temperatures in sun and shade locations.
Location
Shade From
Trees/Shrubs
Shade from Buildings Full Sun
Air Temperature
Soil Temperature
Based on your measurements, what conclusions can you make about temperature variation in different locations?
3.
If a sunny spot is desirable for a rain garden, which areas do you suggest for a rain garden? Why do you suggest these areas?
4.
If a shady spot is desirable for a rain garden, which areas do you suggest for a rain garden? Why do you suggest these areas?

On the provided school map locate and mark the following characteristics:

Hard (impervious) surfaces such as sidewalks and parking areas

Porous (pervious) surfaces such as lawns, flower beds, and natural areas

Areas of bare soil and where you observe erosion

Traffic patterns

Sports fields, bike racks, benches and picnic tables, fences, and anything else on the school ground that is important for planning.
Evaluating Site Characteristics
1.
Are there any impervious surfaces that appear to drain large amounts of water? Look for gullies in the soil and flow patterns from the water. Why do you think these impervious surfaces have increased drainage? Could water from these areas be diverted into a rain garden?
Estimate drainage area for each impervious surface by measuring the length and width of the surface and calculate the area.
2.
Based on your observations, which areas do you suggest for a rain garden? Why do you suggest these areas?