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Bioswales

SINCE 2016

The most effective way of trapping the largest variety of pollutants, bioswales are shallow drainage ditches filled with vegetation or compost, commonly switchgrass, to create a flow path to slow water movement during rainstorms. This design helps deposit silt and capture particulate pollutants, including heavy metals, rubber, and oil.

ALONG THE RAY

We’re partnering with Georgia DOT and their roadside maintenance staff, contractors and landscape architects, as well as local ecologists and other experts, to determine the optimal number, size, and placement of bioswales needed on our stretch of highway. Our goal is to successfully clean water runoff and mitigate pollution, all with native Georgia plant species. Bonus: Bioswales are beautiful, creating a more uplifting experience for passing motorists.

FUTURE INNOVATION

In the future, we’ll track our impact by collecting data that captures the effect of bioswale interventions on water quality along The Ray. We believe our findings will inspire similar bioswale constructions on highways throughout Georgia, the U.S. and the world.