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Smugglers' Notch Vermont - Press Releases
Summer 2008
Green News from Smugglers' Notch Resort
Part of the charm of Smugglers’ Notch Village are the ponds and surrounding landscaping that can be found throughout the Resort. While they undoubtedly add to the beauty of the Village, some of these ponds are also helping with stormwater control. They are designed and placed to collect rain runoff from the roads, parking lots and around the buildings. Water from these areas first runs into a small holding pond known as a forebay. In the forebay, the fast moving water is slowed down to allow some of the sediment to fall out. As the forebay fills and overflows into the main pond, the water moves much more slowly and even more sediment settles out of the water. The main ponds are designed to hold and release high water slowly. This allows the sediment in the water to settle to the bottom and cleaner water drains off the top of the pond.
Very specific types of plants are grown in and around the ponds. Submergents such as wild celery, duckweed, and whitewater lilies are planted below the water level. Emergent plants such as broadleaf arrowhead, broomsedge and burreed are planted at the level where the water changes. Above the water level of the pond and around the edges of the pond, creeping bentgrass, grass level goldenrod, and switchgrass are planted. These different types of plants are used to trap the sediment in the water and to reduce the phosphorus loading in the stormwater before it is returned back to our streams and rivers. Now, when you visit Smuggs and see a pond with water lilies and cattails around it, you will know that it is part of a natural system that helps clean our stormwater before it returns to the aquifer.
Our Summer walk, Where Does the Water Go?, tours some of the ponds and addresses stormwater control at the Resort, in addition to offering tips for homeowners interested in addressing the issue on their own properties.
For more information on our environmental initiatives, please go to www.smuggs.com/environment |
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