Pike seniors to plant rain garden

Posted 9/30/09

Waters entering the Lackawaxen and Delaware rivers just below the Lackawaxen Township Fire Hall will be cleaner thanks to the efforts of the senior citizens who meet there for meals and social …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Pike seniors to plant rain garden

Posted

Waters entering the Lackawaxen and Delaware rivers just below the Lackawaxen Township Fire Hall will be cleaner thanks to the efforts of the senior citizens who meet there for meals and social activities. Pike County Conservation District (PCCD) watershed specialist Lori Colgan has been providing educational programs related to water quality issues for the seniors. The group identified a clogged road pipe as the source of water contamination from stormwater runoff.

Lackawaxen Township employees got to work preparing the site by cleaning out the pipe, ditching the area, creating a plunge pit and installing riprap and top soil. The seniors will help to install and care for native plants such as iris versicolor, red bee balm and black-eyed susans. Blooms will span the seasons from May through September and help to attract species like hummingbirds and butterflies.

While some rain gardens are created to capture water, the purpose of this installation is to establish plantings that will filter pollutants and sediment that would otherwise enter the rivers. “It’s a win-win situation all around,” said Colgan.

The ditch and pipe drainage problem has been addressed and the site will be more attractive for humans and provide better habitat for certain birds and insects.”

The project was made possible through the partnership of the PCCD and the Pike County Area Agency on Aging with the support of a mini grant of $1,000 from the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts. Seniors can enjoy meals and companionship at the Lackawaxen location every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information call 570/775-5550.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here