This week students at McCloskey Elementary worked alongside volunteers and members of Cougar Creek Stream Keepers to build Delta’s largest rain garden.
City of Delta Engineering Operations staff excavated the area, and did earthwork and drainage modifications to divert school roof runoff out of the storm sewer. The project will help redirect the millions of litres of rainwater, which is collected on McCloskey’s roof, away from city drains and back into the Cougar Creek ecosystem.
Over 11,000 indigenous plants were planted alongside the school on BC Hydro land, making the BC Hydro–McCloskey Rain Garden the largest in the city.
Rain gardens like to one at McCloskey allow rainwater runoff from impervious urban areas, like roofs, driveways, walkways, parking lots, and compacted lawn areas, to be absorbed back into the natural creek and water systems in our city.
In attendance at this week’s garden build were Mayor Lois Jackson, Delta School District Chairperson Laura Dixon, Trustee Val Windsor, and Superintendent Doug Sheppard.