Projects and Reports
Primary Investigator: Dr. Donald Carpenter, carpenter@ltu.edu
SOCWA Rain Garden Investigation Final Report 
Design and Maintenance Presentation
Homeowner Design and Maintenance Guide
Bioretention Design AH Citizens Workshop
Bioretention Design Landscaper Workshop
Bioetention Design Sustainable SW Workshop
Hills Co Greenroof Presentation
Lathrup Memo on Rain Garden Feasibility
Rain Garden Presentation to Rouge Comm
Title: Rain Garden Demonstration and Educational Project
Research Objectives:
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To design and construct two bioretention cells (i.e. rain gardens) on Lawrence Tech’s campus to serve both as a retrofit structural storm water BMP as well as an educational tool.
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To educate the next generation of engineers, professionals, and community leaders on issues associated with stormwater, stormwater management techniques, and the need to protect our watersheds through courses, programs, and outreach events.
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To determine the hydrologic response of both rain garden zones to multiple storm events to analyze the effect of planting mixtures.
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To evaluate the design parameters associated with rain gardens and provide guidance for future construction.
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To incorporate information gathered from the research equipment into Lawrence Tech educational offerings.
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To prepare illustrated public information handouts with information on rain gardens and the Lawrence Tech Rain Garden Demonstration and Educational Project.
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To plan and organize multiple outreach programs focusing on results from the project.
Current Projects
Primary Investigator: Laura Hallam, Hallamlaura@gmail.com
Thesis Title: Determining Effectiveness of Bioretention Cells as Structural Stormwater BMP's thru Monitoring Temporal Changes and Evaluating Influence of Varying Soil Compositions on Infiltration and Water Quality.
Research Objectives: Monitor and collect field measurements to quantify the performance of rain gardens as structural storm water BMPs. Determine the influence of planting mixtures on surface infiltration and soil moisture. Conduct field and laboratory experiments to quantify the removal efficiency of TN, TP, TSS within the cells. Monitor the cell to determine the effect of temporal changes on bioretention performance.
Background: In conjunction with the Rain Garden Demonstration and Educational Project, a thesis project is being conducted to evaluate the performance of two bioretention cells implemented on the campus of Lawrence Technological University. This project includes conducting a literature review on all research conducted in the field of bioretention cells, designing and constructing two bioretention cells, equipping the two cells with soil moisture sensors and temperature sensors, flow meters, water quality samplers, and a rain gauge (Equipment Description) In addition, this project includes laboratory and field investigations.