Comments on: Bioswale – A Portland Neighborhood Cleans its Water Together

By: germinatrix

germinatrix — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 17:19:19 +0000

Thank you so much for commenting, Laura! This is SO exciting and inspiring, and shows what an AMAZING, forward – thinking city Portland is! I am so impressed with the work you do – I was CONVINCED that is was the work of the neighbors, because the choices, while being very focused, was also quite idiosyncratic! There were moments that seemed specific to the house they were associated with. How fantastic – kudos! I would LOVE to go on one of your tours… maybe next time I am in my new favorite city! All the best!

By: Laura Sloan

Laura Sloan — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 16:00:46 +0000

Hi Ivette, thanks for the positive publicity of our city’s right-of-way stormwater management approach. In Portland, we have already built and are managing over 800 bioswales & raingardens or varying sizes and shapes. The project you’re referring to here is the first installation of what’s being called Tabor-to-River, an effort you can learn more about on the City of Portland’s website: http://www.portlandonline.com. I want to let you know that even though we do have some helpful, supportive, and involved neighbors in the project area, and indeed throughout Portland, the City built and maintains the “Greenstreets” in perpetuity (that’s my job!). The workhorse plants in this design are a mix of functional ornamentals and adaptable Northwest natives, including ‘Gold Flame’ Spiraea, ‘Magic Carpet’ Spiraea, Juncus patens (Grooved Rush) and Carex densa (Dense Sedge). For anyone interested in learning more about these efforts, the City sponsors bicycle tours of Greenstreets, raingardens, ecoroofs, and permeable paving projects throughout the city several times a year. We would love to see you on one!

By: Tina

Tina — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:56:46 +0000

Nice! What a fantastic idea and I hope Raleigh, NC is watching as we’re reasonably rainy, too. In the meantime, will resist the urge to move to Portland!

By: Shellyann Banwarie

Shellyann Banwarie — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:46:50 +0000

What an amazing thing a Bioswale, to make your community so beautiful . What a Place. Thank you Portland

By: Lynn

Lynn — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 16:12:49 +0000

Great post, Ivette. The gardens are as beautiful as they are functional. It’s very cool that Portland turned their infamous wet weather into another positive attribute of the city.

By: Tracy

Tracy — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 15:58:40 +0000

I lived in Central Oregon for about 35 years. Loved it. Can’t beat that crisp Northwest Air in the morning. I love this idea of what to do with all the extra rain water. I live in Florida now and think I can use this idea. I absolutely love the little bridge design. Clever and whimsical the wavey boards of the bridge.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:38:45 +0000

I have never heard of a bioswale before I read your post. I love the idea. It is green and it is functional. We are tired of grass in our parking strip and we were looking for some ideas. I think we have found the answer for our strip too.

By: Marissa

Marissa — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:27:10 +0000

I look forward to every new post. Although I can’t apply some of the info to our Phoenix climate I enjoy reading your design ideas. The new issue of Sunset magazine arrived over the weekend. Congrats on your article.
Marissa

By: Dirty Girl Gardening

Dirty Girl Gardening — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 17:18:02 +0000

love it… such a great idea. and seemingly simple…

By: germinatrix

germinatrix — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 23:16:22 +0000

Laura – you and me BOTH! Going to Portland was like going to a magical fairy tale city for me! I’ve seen some good examples of bioswales here in LA, but most of them are on private property rather than out in the public parts of our city. We need to take a cue from our rainier, fairer sister city to the north! Portland, LA is winking at you!

Hey there Matt! I was laboring over how detailed to get with my description – you know how it is, get too far into the gorgeous details of incline, infiltration, rip rap (I love that term), and retention and eyes can start to glaze over. Here in LA, part of the Los Angeles River (really the Los Angeles DITCH) was turned back into a vegetated wetland, and the water quality has improved measurably in that area. Alas, it has yet to be done along the REST of the river! When it is done, the Santa Monica Bay may be safe to swim in again…
I’d love to see more bioswales in public here in Los Angeles. The north is so much more progressive! XO!