There was a very interesting article in today's paper about creating a dry
creek bed to take water away from the house when necessary. It sounds like
just the thing for my yard but I need more information on it. Does anyone have
experience with this idea?

My back yard is flat and the yards on either side are a little higher. During
a recent period of days of hard rains the ground became saturated and looked
like little lakes all over the yard. Thank goodness the patio was built right
and water went to the yard instead of the house.

The yard is featureless. I have put chopped leaves on top of grass to make the
turf easier to dig this year and create large curves, but a dry creek with
plants on the edges would be interesting. I wonder where you start and end
this creek. Has anyone come across more to read about this?

Marilyn in Ohio

Hi Marilyn,

A recent issue of Landscape Architecture magazine dealt with this concept,
and gave some really good advice. The article is 'A Good Soaking: An
Introduction to Water Harvesting in The Midwest', by Ann Philips, 8/03, pp.
46, 50, 53, 54, 55. (8/03 refers to issue #8 of 2003.) A short into to the
article can be read he
http://www.asla.org/lamag/lam03/august/ecology.html

The article mentions a publication of the City of Tuscon titled, 'City of
Tucson Water Harvesting Guidance Manual'. The idea is to take water that
would normally run off a site (be it from impermeable surfaces such as
roadways, roofs, patios, etc.) or just soil that is overwhelmed by
stormwater and putting it to beneficial use. That manual is available
online:

'City of Tucson Water Harvesting Guidance Manual',
http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/planning/whm.pdf

Dave




"Allview" wrote in message
...
There was a very interesting article in today's paper about creating a dry
creek bed to take water away from the house when necessary. It sounds
like
just the thing for my yard but I need more information on it. Does anyone
have
experience with this idea?

My back yard is flat and the yards on either side are a little higher.
During
a recent period of days of hard rains the ground became saturated and
looked
like little lakes all over the yard. Thank goodness the patio was built
right
and water went to the yard instead of the house.

The yard is featureless. I have put chopped leaves on top of grass to
make the
turf easier to dig this year and create large curves, but a dry creek with
plants on the edges would be interesting. I wonder where you start and
end
this creek. Has anyone come across more to read about this?

Marilyn in Ohio

As an addendum, I think it would be a good idea to work with a professional
to site the dry creek bed and to also specify materials so that the bed can
function to both channel and diffuse stormwater.

Dave

"David J Bockman" wrote in message
...
Hi Marilyn,

A recent issue of Landscape Architecture magazine dealt with this concept,
and gave some really good advice. The article is 'A Good Soaking: An
Introduction to Water Harvesting in The Midwest', by Ann Philips, 8/03,
pp.
46, 50, 53, 54, 55. (8/03 refers to issue #8 of 2003.) A short into to the
article can be read he
http://www.asla.org/lamag/lam03/august/ecology.html

The article mentions a publication of the City of Tuscon titled, 'City of
Tucson Water Harvesting Guidance Manual'. The idea is to take water that
would normally run off a site (be it from impermeable surfaces such as
roadways, roofs, patios, etc.) or just soil that is overwhelmed by
stormwater and putting it to beneficial use. That manual is available
online:

'City of Tucson Water Harvesting Guidance Manual',
http://www.ci.tucson.az.us/planning/whm.pdf

Dave




"Allview" wrote in message
...
There was a very interesting article in today's paper about creating a
dry
creek bed to take water away from the house when necessary. It sounds
like
just the thing for my yard but I need more information on it. Does
anyone
have
experience with this idea?

My back yard is flat and the yards on either side are a little higher.
During
a recent period of days of hard rains the ground became saturated and
looked
like little lakes all over the yard. Thank goodness the patio was built
right
and water went to the yard instead of the house.

The yard is featureless. I have put chopped leaves on top of grass to
make the
turf easier to dig this year and create large curves, but a dry creek
with
plants on the edges would be interesting. I wonder where you start and
end
this creek. Has anyone come across more to read about this?

Marilyn in Ohio

I think it would be a good idea to work with a professional
to site the dry creek bed and to also specify materials so that the bed can
function to both channel and diffuse stormwater.


Good point. This is the kind of input I need.

Marilyn

Where do you live, Marilyn? Perhaps I can suggest someone close by...

Dave

"Allview" wrote in message
...
I think it would be a good idea to work with a professional
to site the dry creek bed and to also specify materials so that the bed
can
function to both channel and diffuse stormwater.


Good point. This is the kind of input I need.

Marilyn

Where do you live, Marilyn? Perhaps I can suggest someone close by...


Near Columbus, OH. I would appreciate it.

Marilyn

\
The yard is featureless. I have put chopped leaves on top of grass to make the
turf easier to dig this year and create large curves, but a dry creek with
plants on the edges would be interesting. I wonder where you start and end
this creek. Has anyone come across more to read about this?

Marilyn in Ohio

Search this term and you will find all you need

"rain garden"

Tom

\
The yard is featureless. I have put chopped leaves on top of grass to make the
turf easier to dig this year and create large curves, but a dry creek with
plants on the edges would be interesting. I wonder where you start and end
this creek. Has anyone come across more to read about this?

Marilyn in Ohio

Search this term and you will find all you need

"rain garden"

Tom

Tom, I'm knocking them dead with this concept in Houston. Good
suggestion. Sure is an effient and low cost solution as well as a
natural way to recharge the water table.

J. Kolenovsky
http://www.celestialhabitats.com

Beecrofter wrote:
=

\
The yard is featureless. I have put chopped leaves on top of grass t=
o make the
turf easier to dig this year and create large curves, but a dry creek=
with
plants on the edges would be interesting. I wonder where you start a=
nd end
this creek. Has anyone come across more to read about this?

Marilyn in Ohio
=

Search this term and you will find all you need
=

"rain garden"
=

Tom

-- =

Celestial Habitats by J. Kolenovsky
2003 Honorable Mention Award, Keep Houston Beautiful
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.celestialhabitats.com - business
=F4=BF=F4 - http://www.hal-pc.org/~garden/personal.html - personal

On 26 Jan 2004 07:50:56 -0800, (Beecrofter) wrote:

\
The yard is featureless. I have put chopped leaves on top of grass to make the
turf easier to dig this year and create large curves, but a dry creek with
plants on the edges would be interesting. I wonder where you start and end
this creek. Has anyone come across more to read about this?

Search this term and you will find all you need

"rain garden"

Fascinating. I'm going to e-mail the local newspaper's garden
columnist and suggest a feature. In this area, we are charged a yearly
tax for "runoff" into the (Chesapeake) Bay. I'd never heard of "rain
gardens" before. What a nifty idea! And plenty of information
available.