The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized the Appoquinimink River Association in Delaware as a leader in promoting environmentally friendly projects that control storm water runoff and help protect the environment.
The non-profit organization was recognized for developing an environmentally friendly rain garden at the Middletown-Odessa-Townsend Senior Center in Middletown, Del. A rain garden is a shallow depression of native grasses and plants that collect storm water runoff from downspouts, driveways and roads. The rain garden is used as demonstration project in Delaware on how to control storm water runoff. For educational purposes, the group installed a sign on the site with graphics and information that explain the importance of rain gardens.
“The rain garden developed by the Appoquinimink River Association serves as a great example of what organizations can do to protect the environment by controlling storm water runoff,” said Donald S. Welsh, administrator for EPA’s mid Atlantic Region. “Retaining as much storm water as possible on land – rather than letting it run to storm drains – can help keep harmful flows and pollutants out of our streams and rivers.”
The association was recognized under the Leadership in Low Impact Development Recognition Program that was created by a cooperative agreement between EPA’s mid-Atlantic region and the Low Impact Development Center in Beltsville, Md. to highlight exceptional efforts in storm water management.
Low-impact development is a storm water management strategy concerned with maintaining or restoring the natural hydrologic functions of a site to achieve natural resource protection objectives. Low-impact development addresses storm water through small, cost-effective site design and landscape. More information on low-impact development can be found at http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/  and more information on the recognition program can be found at www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/recognition .