Cougar Canyon Rain Garden in Delta, British Columbia: A Community Project
The Cougar Canyon Rain Garden will be one of three Corporation of Delta projects that will be featured as part of Showcasing Green Infrastructure Innovation in the Greater Vancouver Region: The 2007 Series. On September 21, Delta wil be hosting the first of three events the comprise the series. For the complete story on the Delta program, please click here.
Proximity to Salmon-bearing Creek
Located at an elementary school opposite Cougar Canyon Environmental Reserve, this site has a direct impact on the quality of Delta's primary salmon-bearing stream. The entire school population was involved in the creation of this rain garden, which infiltrates rainwater runoff from the school parking lot.
Sarah Howie and Deborah Jones will co-present the Cougar Canyon story in order to provide the planning/design and community outreach perspectives, respectively.
According to Sarah Howie, an intern landscape architect with Delta, “It's easy to be proud of this project. Working with Deborah Jones and the other Streamkeeper volunteers was invaluable; their energy and interest in creating the garden is what made it possible. This is an excellent example of what can be achieved when municipalities work closely with community groups.”
Student Involvement
Every student enrolled in the 2006/2007 school year at Cougar Canyon Elementary School was involved in the creation of the rain garden. Each class participated in a presentation to teach students how a rain garden functions and why the school's garden is important to Cougar Creek. Then, every student took a plant out to the garden, in the midst of a memorable November rainstorm, and carefully placed their plant in the garden.
Students from the high school next door also lent a hand, planting the larger shrubs that were too heavy for the smaller children. The students are proud of their accomplishment and there is a very strong sense of ownership here.
The garden contains largely native plants, and all of the plantings are drought tolerant. Shrubs were chosen for their flowers and wildlife value. Many of the plants produce flowers during the school year, even in winter, so the students and the community can enjoy the garden year-round.
Posted August 2007