Energy News and Activities
The Township of Readington has developed an Environmental Resource for use by the community and school district at large, which we are delighted to share:
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/collections/1605902a9599483d9f43b4bdf4fd8f8c?item=1
Our Three Bridges School detention basin committee, in coordination with Dr. Chris Obropta , Director and Extension Specialist of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Water Resources Program, have engaged the services of the extension service to engineer a basin retrofit of the property drain stormwater basin (13,500 square feet) adjacent to Forrest Hill Drive. The bottom of the basin (4000 square feet) was converted to a meadow and planted with native perennials and grasses that are tolerant of varying moisture conditions. Native plants provide food and habitat for birds and pollinator insects essential to our ecosystem. The plants will soak up stormwater runoff and developing root systems will increase soil porosity. Improved retention (action of absorbing water) and detention (holding back the water) of stormwater is one goal of this project.
Another goal is to educate students and the local community about the importance of protecting our natural resources. Three Bridges School lies within the Raritan River South Branch watershed, a subwatershed of the Raritan River. Educating students and the public about nonpoint source pollution, watershed protection and the water cycle is an important step to help the community and students recognize the impact on a local stream.
Stormwater Basin Redesign Takes Shape at Readington Middle School
The fenced-in stormwater detention basin next to the bus parking area at the Readington Middle School continues to grow and evolve. The collaboration between the Board of Education, the District Green Team, Readington Township, and its Environmental Commission is funded by a special Clean Water grant through N.J. Department of Environmental Protection.
The project is an excellent example of employing green stormwater management practices and is part of the District commitment to environmental stewardship and River Friendly Schools recognition.
The design was engineered to capture the stormwater runoff from the roofs and parking lot areas of the Readington Middle School and to filter sediment and pollutants out using native New Jersey plant materials that also serve as habitat for wildlife. The basin slows the speed of the property’s stormwater, allows more of it to be re-absorbed into the soil and reduces the potential of flooding of our downstream neighbors. In an average 1” rainfall event up to 200,000 gallons of stormwater can be generated at the Middle School and its parking areas.
Season #1 is just winding down. The fast flush of grasses from the Summer is dying back now and the roots systems of the plants will continue to grow with the cold rain and snow of Winter. The snow fences will no longer be needed in the Spring when we will see a flush of new color from flowering and woody plants that will pop up in the environment and take over the grasses in Seasons #2 and #3.
Students will be using the basin habitat as an outdoor classroom laboratory utilizing science and mathematics content to study the water cycle and wildlife that is part of this mini-ecosystem. Be on the lookout for constantly evolving changes in this interesting and dynamic “neighborhood” in the coming months as you visit the school and district offices. An official dedication will be made in late Spring before Summer break.
By Steve Foster, Readington Twp. Environmental Commission
Readington Township Environmental Commission website:
https://www.readingtontwpnj.gov/boards-committees/environmental
The achievements of our Energy Efficiency Program at Readington Schools were featured on the Hunterdon County segment of PBS 39 local news.
All four Readington Schools were awarded re-certification by Sustainable Jersey for Schools in October 2018. Readington Middle School and Holland Brook School earned bronze certification and Whitehouse School and Three Bridges School earned silver certification. These certifications reflect all of the wonderful ways we are conserving resources, educating about sustainability, and improving health and wellness in our schools. Congratulations!