KEEPING RAIN WATER WHERE IT BELONGS
            Managing storm water means keeping the rain that falls on your property on your property. Easier said than done nowadays.
            Before the days of corn and soybean fields and cities, much of the rain that fell infiltrated the ground – thanks to the very deep roots of prairie grass and the root systems of the woodlands. Many creeks, streams, and rivers covered the landscape to carry away the rain that was left to run off. When the ground became saturated and natural waterways filled to overflowing, wetlands adjoining the streams and rivers held the water, purified it, and released it slowly.
            Population expanded and moved into new territories. Prairie sod was turned over, row crops planted, wetlands drained, roads built and communities developed. Natural water systems were altered and man-made systems of ditches and storm sewers that emptied into natural waterways took their place. Each change in land-use brought its own storm water management problems.
            Row crops that increased run off replaced the natural plants that allowed rainwater to infiltrate the ground. Water was drained under the ground, or allowed to run over the ground, to be carried away in ditches. Rain barrels and cisterns gave way to water from a faucet allowing water from rooftops to flow through downspouts in forceful streams to roadsides and storm sewers. Development replaced prairie grass and trees with streets, roads, parking lots, and rooftops that kept rain from infiltrating the ground. Trees and natural grass were replaced by lawn grass with shallow roots that sheds water like an impervious surface.
            Man-made systems work well when rains are light to moderate. Heavy rains fill the man-made systems to overflowing with nowhere for the excess to go. Like a giant bathtub overflowing because the drain cannot take the water fast enough, developed lands that once would have been waterways and wetlands become flooded. Dikes and dams built to manage the flow simply force more water to become a problem downstream.
            Managing storm water effectively requires a cooperative effort. Farmers cooperate by using conservation practices that allow for as much infiltration of rainfall as possible. New residential and business developments, in the country or in the city, cooperate by requiring architects and landscapers to keep as much storm water on site as possible.
In already established development, each landowner can cooperate by renovating landscape to keep rain water where it falls: such as, redirecting downspouts to vegetated areas; collecting runoff from the roof and using it for watering; planting rain gardens where downspouts discharge; using native plants and trees that allow for infiltration; and replacing decks and driveways with new materials that are not impervious. Everyone can support efforts to establish and maintain wetlands and encourage policies that exclude development on identified flood plains.

Della Moen, Earth Team Volunteer, NRCS/Stephenson Soil and Water Conservation District, an equal opportunity provider and employer, 08/15/07 (for publication on 08/25/07 in the Journal Standard, Freeport, Illinois) Della can be reached at info@stephensonswcd.org