Alpena plants 670 native plugs in two new downtown rain gardens
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ALPENA - Volunteers and partners planted 670 native plugs, young plants grown in a tray cell with its roots and soil intact, across two new rain gardens in downtown Alpena. This project will establish green stormwater infrastructure that will capture and filter runoff while serving as a pollinator-friendly showpiece, according to Huron Pines.
The gardens are located at the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) building and along River Street. As a Lake Huron Forever Community, the City of Alpena is advancing efforts to protect the water quality of Lake Huron, the source of drinking water for the port town.
Courtesy photo Huron Pines, City of Alpena, and DDA staff plant a rain garden along a newly reconstructed parking lot on River Street. Grant funding supported the renovation of the parking lot and installation of a native plant rain garden at this site.
Many hands made light work of the planting, Huron Pines said. The native plants, installed as plugs, will help intercept stormwater that would otherwise flow across pavement into storm drains and ultimately into Lake Huron.
Huron Pines thanked partners at the City of Alpena and the DDA for taking on the projects. The work was supported by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
Rain gardens use shallow basins and deep-rooted native vegetation to temporarily hold and filter runoff, reducing pollutant loads and easing pressure on traditional storm sewers while creating habitat. The two new sites continue a series of community-supported green infrastructure projects in Alpena identified through earlier visioning efforts.
Josh Jambor can be reached at jjambor@thealpenanews.com.