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DC GREEN
Water Retention
Recycled Rain Rejuvenates Gardens, Benefits River
by Elizabeth McGowan provides a second line of defense. There, inkberry
holly and Henry’s garnet sweetspire plants thrive
Frank with his garden.
A s a teenager, Frank Matthews wielded the
family lawnmower as a weapon of grass
destruction. Indeed, no flower, tree or shrub in
in a mix of springy soil about 3 feet deep. A berm
aids in containing water cascading off the asphalt.
Whatever trickles through is slurped up by a pair
Photo by Elizabeth McGowan
the yard along the 4500 block of Douglas Street NE of stout, newly planted black gum trees gracing the
could hide from his weekly punishment. edge of the lawn that tapers into Nash Creek, an
But by 1983 a kinder, gentler gardener began Anacostia tributary.
blossoming at that same address. That’s when he DC modeled Riversmart Homes after a simi-
moved back into the Ward 7 family homestead his lar program in Portland, Ore. The idea is to involve
grandfather built 101 years ago in the Kenilworth handfuls of local nonprofits such as Casey Trees in
neighborhood. the grant program.
“Those days are over now,” Matthews says Arborist and landscape designer Lauren Wheeler
with a laugh about his childhood antics. Indeed, is a Brookland resident who operates Natural Resourc-
the 58-year-old now nurtures such a green streak es Design. Her small business is an integral player in
that he was one of the first to enroll in a water- shaping the eight demonstration projects.
conservation program the DC Department of “It’s exciting to be working in the different
Environment is debuting this spring. wards,” says Wheeler, while surveying Matthews’
As its name suggests, Riversmart Homes is a gardens. “We see this program as an extension
low-key and low-cost initiative to direct rainwa- of the work we do, which is ecologically focused
ter runoff away from the overwhelmed Anacostia landscape design. And what’s wonderful is that
River and onto lawns and gardens retrofitted with these kinds of innovative landscaping techniques
plants and trees native to the soil and weather are available to anybody in the city.”
patterns of the Mid-Atlantic. More than 300 Once the showcase properties are finished, the
residents answered the city’s call for participants. city will invite more residents to the table, explains
After winnowing the list and performing “storm- Steve Saari, an environment protection specialist
water audits,” watershed specialists selected one helping to coordinate the program. A flat patch of Frank Matthews’
winning home from each ward. “Little by little, we’ll be able to convert people,” blacktop driveway was transformed
By signing up to showcase their properties as he says. “We’re starting with residences because into an underground storage bin for
rainwater when replaced with pav-
demonstration projects, Matthews and seven others that’s the largest segment of the city. It gives us the ers in a bed of clean gravel. Photo
agreed to be neighborhood ambassadors for water biggest bang for our buck.” by Elizabeth McGowan
efficiency. He is thrilled with the free five-element Eventually, the program will encompass busi-
makeover a team of landscapers collaborating with nesses and apartment buildings. Saari and his team
DC gave his corner lot before Thanksgiving. from the Department of Environment’s watershed
First, a 120-gallon plastic green barrel perched protection division are still ironing out how to bal-
innocuously next to his front porch captures ance costs between the city and participants. To
water from his roof that he uses to douse his plants spread the wealth, they will be making a special
during dry spells. A few feet away, a 126-square- effort to include low-income households.
foot section of blacktop driveway was dug out and “People are finally realizing that they can’t just
replaced with pavers sturdily nestled in 8 inches of waste, waste, waste,” Matthews says about DC’s
pure gravel. It’s an underground holding pen for enlightenment on the sustainability front. “A lot of
water that would otherwise inundate overextended people have to do their part, otherwise down the
stormwater pipes. Stored water seeps into Matthews’ line, it’s all going to fall apart.”
yard long after a rainstorm has passed. By commuting via Metrorail, insulating his
These two manmade diversions are complemented house, composting leaves and yard clippings, and
with three more-natural additions designed to slow the signing up for Riverfront Homes, the budget
flow of raindrops racing down his sloped yard. First, a analyst with the Homeland Security Department is A black gum tree, provided
Chesapeake Bayscape garden featuring stalwarts such trying to invite others to walk the conservation walk by the nonprofit Casey Trees,
absorbs water near where
as asters, hydrangea, viburnum, columbine, goldenrod along with him. Matthews’ yard spills into
and hardy ageratum abuts the sidewalk at the top of “Hopefully, somebody will see this,” Matthews Nash Creek, an Anacostia
the property. says, gesturing to his rain barrel, “and they’ll do River tributary. Photo by
Elizabeth McGowan
A rain garden at the bottom of the driveway something like it, too.” ■
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