Urban Conservation Photo Gallery

AquaBric

AquaBric Pavers work well to allow storm water to infiltrate at this Windsor Heights park.

Bioretention Cell

This bioretention cell can absorb runoff from the parking lot. It is filled with trees and native plants and grasses.

Bioretention Cell

Bioretention cells manage runoff from impervious surfaces that dominate commercial, institutional and industrial sites.

Bioretention Cell

This bioretention cell captures storm water runoff from the sidewalk and other impervious surfaces before it enters West Okoboji Lake in northwest Iowa.

Bioswale

Bioswales are vegetated conveyance systems that provide an alternative to storm sewers.

Compost Blanket

A compost blanket is blown on this new Johnston, Iowa yard. Compost is high in organic matter content, which absorbs the impact of raindrops, preventing the detachment of soil particles.

Compost Blanket

Compost mixed with grass seed is blown on this new central Iowa lawn.

Compost Socks

A road tube outlets water to compost-seeded Filtrexx Soxx™ (a type of compost sock) that reduce flow to a temporary sediment basin at a new residential subdivision in Glenwood, Iowa.

Curb Cut

A West Des Moines parking lot not only has permeable paver blocks to infiltrate storm water, but it also has a curb cut that allows water to flow into a rain garden.

Curb Cut

A curb cut in a bioretention cell at the Ankeny Sports Complex allows storm water runoff to enter.

Curb Cut/Inlet Protection

This curb cut provides inlet protection before storm water runoff enters a storm sewer.

Green Roof

A green roof on a park building in Coralville, Iowa. Green roofs conserve energy, reduce storwater runoff and can protect conventional roofing systems.

Green Roof

This green roof on a park building in Coralville, Iowa restores the aesthetic value of urban open space.

Green Roof

The Des Moines Public Library downtown has a green roof. Green roofs conserve energy, reduce runoff volume and protect roof systems.

Green Roof

The Des Moines Public Library's green roof up close in July 2008.

Green Roof

This green roof on a park building in Coralville, Iowa dramatically reduces stormwater runoff.

Green Roof

Residents of the Water Tower Place Condominiums enjoy their new green roof. The condo is located in downtown Cedar Rapids.

Green Roof

An old water tower makes a great backdrop for a new green roof constructed on the Water Tower Place Condominiums in downtown Cedar Rapids.

Green Roof

The Water Tower Place Condos in Cedar Rapids have a green roof that includes walking paths and grills to cook out.

Inlet Protection

Geotextile fabric is installed beneath the grate of this storm sewer inlet. Runoff will receive one last filtering before moving off-site.

Mulch

Apply vegetative residue, such as mulch, to protect soil surfaces from the impact of raindrops or the ersosive forces of wind.

Native Landscaping

A purple coneflower serves as native landscaping.

Native Landscaping

Native landscaping on acreages can reduce the amount of lawn care needed and provide for a beautiful, low maintenance garden.

Native Landscaping

Native plants have a tremendous root architecture that builds soil quality and increases organic matter content.

Native Landscaping

Native plants show their summer colors in a bioretention cell in Ankeny, Iowa.

Native Landscaping

A developer planted natives to hold pond banks in place and to keep pollutants from easily entering.

Native Landscaping

Native landscaping is a storm water management practice that retains and infiltrates rainfall on-site.

Native Landscaping

This native is being planted in a rain garden. Native plants have strong roots that absorb water like sponge.

Paver Blocks

Paver blocks are one example of a permeable paving alternative.

Permeable Paving Alternative

Paver blocks allow water to infiltrate this parking lot in Minnesota.

Permeable Paving Alternative

Paver blocks allow water to infiltrate to a subgrade below.

Permeable Paving Alternative

Paver blocks serve as an alternative to a traditional paved parking lot in an auto dealership in Minnesota.

Permeable Paving Alternative

Paver blocks provide the support of traditional impervious surfaces while allowing water to infiltrate. The system works well for this auto dealership in Minnesota.

Permeable Paving Alternative

This parking lot in West Des Moines, Iowa, uses paver blocks to allow rainfall to infiltrate the surface.

Pervious Walking Trail

A pervious walking trail at a residential subdivision in Glenwood, Iowa. A geo-web vinyl grid lies on top of a geo-web fabric. The grid holds open grated rock in place. The trail will infiltrate storm water runoff.

Porous Asphalt Installation

A paving company begins installing porous asphalt in a church parking lot in Underwood, Iowa.

Porous Asphalt Installation

A crew installs porous asphalt in a church parking lot in Underwood, Iowa.

Porous Asphalt Installation

A crew levels porous asphalt as it is being poured in a church parking lot in Underwood, Iowa.

Porous Asphalt Installation

Porous asphalt installation in Underwood, Iowa. Porous asphalt allows storm water to infiltrate, instead of moving it to storm sewers.

Porous Asphalt Installation

Porous Asphalt is leveled during installation in this parking lot in Underwood, Iowa.

Porous Asphalt

A portion of this walking trail (bottom) has porous asphalt, which allows water to infiltrate and dries the surface quickly. The above portion is a traditional asphalt surface.

Porous Asphalt

A central Iowa parking lot has porous asphalt, which allows water to infiltrate.

Porous Asphalt

Compared to traditional asphalt on the right, porous asphalt allows water to infiltrate.

Rain Garden Installation

Sizing of a rain garden depends on the depth of the rain garden and the percolation rates you have at the site. This is a rain garden installation in North Dakota.

Rain Garden

A rain garden near Iowa's Great Lakes is part of a treatment train that absorbs runoff from three acres of parking lots.

Rain Garden

This is the North Dakota rain garden after installation, taking in water from a heavy rain.

Rain Garden

Paul Miller, district conservationist in Polk County, helps a student from Greenwood Elementary in Des Moines plant a native in a rain garden that catches runoff from the school parking lot.

Rain Garden

A newly installed rain garden in Council Bluffs' Loess Hills captures storm water during a storm.

Rain Garden

Rain gardens should be located 30-40 feet from your home, and should utilize natural depressions, if possible.

Rain Garden

Rain gardens create functional landscapes by infiltrating rainwater and by processing pollutants.

Rain Garden

A newly installed rain garden in rural Treynor, Iowa, helps to keep water away from a home, and also conserves water.

Rain Garden

Rain gardens are perennial gardens that are strategically located to capture runoff from impervious surfaces.

Rolled Erosion Control

Matting protects the disturbed slope from erosion until vegetative cover is established. Seeding is completed prior to installation.

Scourstop

Iowa School for the Deaf in Council Bluffs uses scourstop to prevent erosion where water flows into their rain garden. Scourstop has voids that allow vegetation to grow through.