Environmental Projects Coordinator Clay Barber was back at Nash Community College this week, overseeing the planting of native species in the campus’ two new rain gardens. The plants will absorb and filter storm water in these low-lying areas where water has previously puddled, helping with drainage and sending clean water into adjacent waterways.

Another campus project is also near completion: a swale that was restored and re-sodded to again assist with stormwater runoff from campus impervious surfaces such as parking lots, roads and rooftops.

Clay said he can’t wait to see what the end result looks like, once the plants are established and growing and working for clean water during the first hard rain!

The swale is a now a subtle dip in the land which strategically leads stormwater runoff toward drainage points.