The Trout Friendly Landscape is a large landscape rehabilitation project that has been integrated into the north and east portions of the Eugene Friends Meeting grounds. On the east side, a large in-ground planter filled with layers of biochar enhanced soil and specialized plants that provide natural filtration for several common urban pollutants. The project solves a long-standing drainage problem from the parking lot in the alley by rerouting that water to the front of the property on Onyx Street.
The north side redesign resolves a number of water and weed related issues by capturing and redirecting surface and groundwater away from the building to the east via a dry creek bed to a rain garden that overflows into the southeast in-ground planter.
Two lawn areas in the front and north sides have been transformed into permeable patios that allow for mud-free, accessible gatherings while also routing stormwater that flows through them to be gathered into the stormwater systems described above.
Click here to learn about other urban landscape projects. Click here to learn about the City of Eugene Amazon Creek Restoration Project.
The new landscape design also created more accessible front and rear outdoor gathering spaces, provides educational opportunities, and beautifies the grounds with native nectar plants for pollinators, food for birds and other wildlife, as well as wildflowers for all to enjoy.
The new landscape design beautifies the grounds with native nectar plants for pollinators, food for birds and other wildlife, as well as wildflowers for all to enjoy. The Eugene Friends Meeting Trout Friendly Landscape will filter water pollutants from storm water to enhance water quality and aquatic habitats for our local upper Amazon Creek, which flows into the lower Long Tom River; the drinking water source for Monroe, Oregon.
The Long Tom River joins with the waters of the Willamette River north of the city of Monroe and flows into the Columbia River west of Hayden Island then ultimately, flows to the Pacific Ocean. Click to view a watershed map that shows how water connects us to the world!
The first phase of the project is complete!
The first phase of the project is complete!
Eugene Friends Meeting donations and volunteer hours complemented a $104,000 grant from the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board. The project was designed with the expertise of the Urban Waters & Wildlife Program Staff of the Long Tom Watershed Council who partnered with Upward Landscapes Solutions, LLC for construction and installation.
Visioning for the second phase of the project will soon begin!
The City of Eugene installs rain gardens to treat stormwater in public areas, and requires new developments to incorporate them to handle water from streets, roofs and other impervious surfaces.
Eugene Friends Meeting is not a new development and not required to install storm water retention facilities. We chose to do so as part of our Earthcare ministry.
Interested in building your own rain garden? Check out rain gardens resources from the City of Eugene.
