On Track Academy Storm Garden

By Kat Hall

Thanks to funding from the Washington Department of Ecology, The Lands Council has been partnering with the City of Spokane to offer a STEM-based, practical hands-on curriculum on stormwater management through green infrastructure and low impact development to one middle or high school in the Spokane Public School District each year. This school year, we worked with students and teachers at the On Track Academy! Our curriculum places particular emphasis on the Spokane River, watershed, and aquifer, and includes field trips to relevant local attractions including Upriver Dam, the Spokane County Water Reclamation Facility and Water Resources Center, and the W. Broadway SURGE Project. It features both field- and classroom-based activities and culminates in the design and construction of an actual storm garden on campus!

During the first half of the course, students learn about the urban water cycle and how contaminated stormwater runoff can pollute local waterways; and are introduced to various green infrastructure techniques. In the lab, they devise optimal storm garden media mixes (e.g. soil, gravel, sand, compost, mulch, etc.) to allow for both infiltration and plant uptake. Similarly, they experiment with different combinations of cement, gravel, and water to construct permeable pavement…known affectionately as “magic sidewalks.” During the second half of the course, students conduct a full-blown site assessment to identify feasible locations for their storm garden on campus. Once a site is selected, they calculate drainage area in order to properly size their storm garden, perform soil infiltration and texture tests, and choose storm garden plant species. They then plant and mulch the storm garden, create an interpretive sign, and devise a “legacy plan,” which includes storm garden maintenance activities (weeding, removing litter, etc.) and an educational protocol for passing on their knowledge to other students in their school. 

The On Track students did a great job and now have a storm garden at their school that they can be proud of! Check it out at 4091 N. Regal St. Thanks very much to the students and teachers for a fun and educational experience. We look forward to working with another school in September…stay tuned for that!