Maize Morse Tri Area Civic Assc.

ADENA BROOK RAIN GARDENS PROJECT

By Heather Dean
Watershed Coordinator
Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed
614-267-3386
www.olentangywatershed.org

Did you know that streams flowing through the Maize-Morse area form part of the headwaters of the Olentangy River?  The small streams in this neighborhood flow into Adena Brook, a tributary of the Olentangy that begins behind Brookhaven School and meanders its way to the Glenmont School and eventually to Whetstone Park, where it empties into the river. 

In the late 1800's Adena Brook was called Big Run.  However, at the request of local residents, the Columbus City Council and the Franklin County Commissioners passed resolutions to change the name to Adena Brook to honor the mound-building Native Americans who lived by the creek as early as 300 B.C.  In the early 1960's construction workers unearthed an old Adena Burial mound containing two skeletons and the remains of tools at the corner of what is now Wynding and Yaronia Drives.

Today Adena Brook and the small streams that feed it provide much-needed green space in the midst of an urban landscape.  They offer opportunities for recreation and provide habitat for owls, hawks, and many other birds and small mammals.

Unfortunately, in an area like ours, these streams are at risk from the urban environment in which we live.  Runoff from winter melts and spring rains can cause streambank erosion and can wash pollutants like fertilizers, pesticides, road salt, and pet waste straight into our waterways.  Excessive runoff can also cause ponding in yards, flooding of streets and sidewalks, and sanitary sewer overflows. 

The good news is that residents of the Maize-Morse area may soon have the opportunity to help improve the quality of our streams while at the same time enhancing their own yards. 

Selected residents of Meadowview Dr., Inwood Pl., Meadowview Ct., and Glenmawr Ave. may be eligible to participate in a free pilot project to help them beautify their landscape and eliminate wet spots in their yards while at the same time protecting our streams and rivers.

Rain gardens represent a simple attractive solution to flooding and erosion problems, and they also help keep our streams clean.  A rain garden collects rainwater from rooftops, driveways, sidewalks, and roads to allow the water to soak into the ground rather than flooding our neighborhoods.

The Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District has received a grant to conduct a pilot project to demonstrate the effectiveness of rain gardens.  If the Maize-Morse area is chosen as the site for the project, up to 25 residents of the streets mentioned above could qualify for a free installation of a rain garden on their property.

For more details about this free pilot project you are invited to attend an informational meeting at 7 PM on April 14 at the Maize Road Baptist Church.   Even if you don't live on one of the qualifying streets, you are still welcome to attend the meeting to learn more about rain gardens and how they can improve your neighborhood.  For more information about rain gardens, go to http://www.franklinswcd.org/ or call 486-9613.