Rain gardens designed with a curb‐cut can be effective in capturing stormwater from streets, parking lots, and other paved areas. In addition to reducing stormwater volume, curb‐cut rain gardens increase urban aesthetics, reduce pollutant concentrations, and help counteract urban heat. Below are some things to consider when designing a curb‐cut rain garden:
Plant Height: When planting in a streetscape, be sure to consider overhead conflicts (utility lines) and visibility issues, especially when planting in a median.
Salt Tolerance: Plants in a curb‐cut rain garden must be able to tolerate road salt that accumulates in the soil and on exposed trunks and branches in the winter months.
Right‐of‐Way: Anyone wishing to work within the right‐of‐way must obtain permission from the state or local municipality. A permit may be required.
Pretreatment: For stormwater runoff collected from a road or parking lot, prevent excess sediments from clogging of the curb-cut rain garden by using some form of pre-treatment of the stormwater before it entering the garden. These may include vegetated filter strips, pre-treatment swales (grass channels), or sediment forebays. For accepted practices and devices, refer to section 4.0 of the Vermont Stormwater Management Manual Rule and Design Guidance.
Supplemental Information
For an example of an urban curb cut rain garden, go here.
Counties have varying processes for obtaining a permit. For more information, contact your local municipality.
