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Earth & Sky :Transcript -Natural Drainage Page 1 of 2 <br /> About Us Sponsorc Melp ConL <br /> Mondat <br /> . ~ <br /> i <br /> li/a3/o4 Radio show Natural Drainage <br /> More on this Topir <br /> Comment on this Show Seattle has developed an innovative way to control storm water runoff ~ ~ ; <br /> that helps protect critical habitat for salmon and other wild creatures. ~,r~ <br /> Previous Radio Shows Drainage systems that mimic nature after this on Earth and Sky. <br /> Wednesday, November REAlAUWO' MP3 HELP <br /> EarthCare 3, 2004 ~ <br /> Edge of Discovery JB: This is Earth and Sky. Rain that falls - ~ j <br /> on forests and fields seeps into the <br /> ground... <br /> Women in Science <br /> DB: But in cities and suburbs, rain that <br /> Vour Science Questions falls on rooftops, parking lots, and <br /> roadways goes into storm water drains <br /> and creeks. Pollutants carried by storm .t. <br /> water runoff ends up in lakes and bays. Find Ea <br /> On its way there, fast-moving storm <br /> water erodes creek beds and destroys your <br /> aquatic wildlife. <br /> Photo Courtesy of Seattle Public E-Ne <br /> JB: Seattle has been testing a plan to do utinties. We h. <br /> basically what nature does with storm water --which is to put It back in the different <br /> ground. Denise Andrews is Surface Water Program Manager for the Seattle to keep <br /> Public Utilities Department. She told us about 21 blocks In an urban of what's <br /> residential neighborhood in Seattle whose streets were fitted with natural Earth & <br /> drainage systems. They created a series of depressions on both sides of for the o <br /> the road, filled with water-tolerant plants and composted soil. These mini- f. <br /> wetlands or "swales," as they're called, let storm water percolate into the <br /> ground and be absorbed by the plants. <br /> DB: After being monitored for several years, this design has been shown , F <br /> to reduce storm water runoff along those 21 blocks by 98%. This ~~~'~~'^a°` <br /> technique is now being implemented in other projects in Seattle. Some <br /> hope the approach will be institutionalized which would mean redefining <br /> Seattle's storm water codes and building codes to create a city more in <br /> harmony with nature. <br /> JB: With thanks to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, we're Block <br /> and Byrd for Earth and Sky. <br /> Author(s): Shireen Gonzaga <br /> More information about this topic <br /> Please let us know what you think! <br /> Tuesday, November 2, 2004 • Thursday, November 4, 2004 <br /> © 2004 Byrd & Block Communications Inc. Permission [o use, copy and <br /> distribute these materials without fee is hereby granted, provided that the <br /> <br /> http://earthsky.com/shows/shows.php?t=20041103 11 /8/2004 <br /> <br />