March 5, 2014

This winter has been especially rainy – it makes us grateful for our innovative systems that manage heavy stormwater.

Over a decade ago, some Mt. Tabor neighbors had sewage flooding their basements because heavy water runoff was clogging small pipes. 

The Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) worked to install larger pipes to prevent overflow.  They also partnered with Portland Public Schools and Glencoe Elementary School to design the beautiful Glencoe Rain Garden, which captures rain and stormwater runoff.

The garden provides the community with a lovely area of nature, and doubles as an outdoor classroom with a butterfly garden for Glencoe Elementary School.

10 years later, it is still a success! There have been no reported basement backups in the neighborhood.  The native plants and soils in the rain garden are doing well and soak up 85% of annual runoff water.  It also prevents pollutants from entering our sewers and rivers. 

To learn more about how Portland focuses on “green” solutions to stormwater management, visit BES’s website.