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Abstract

Indiana’s Wabash River is being polluted with contaminated water runoff from precipitation events. A lack of pervious land cover has led to an accumulation of fertilizer, sediment, and waste in the river. Green infrastructure, a stormwater management practice that mimics the natural ecosystem, is one of the most effective ways to prevent pollution from stormwater runoff and benefit the community. This project consisted of a rain garden installation at the Lafayette Fueling Station, a site where frequent water drainage and water runoff into the Wabash occurs. The rain garden will allow on-site water infiltration during rain events and promote natural pollutant removal underground. Further, students had the opportunity to engage with community partners at Lafayette Renew, the City of Lafayette’s division in charge of stormwater management. This experience and its challenges and successes can be used as a reference for others pursuing community volunteer efforts. While this rain garden is a positive addition to the city’s green infrastructure projects, more installations in this course and beyond that utilize best management practices are recommended in order to protect the Wabash River and promote sustainable development. The rain garden will prevent pollution from contaminating the Wabash and downriver bodies of water such as the Gulf of Mexico. This project has allowed me to reflect on the impacts that community service can provide to communities not only near the site of the project but also hundreds of miles away. The project has also allowed me to reaffirm my commitment to making the world a cleaner place through my work and volunteer efforts alike.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5703/1288284317688

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