Hi, Lodi Watershed Teachers,
As the wet season in Lodi slowly approaches, it would be timely, now, to review with your students, Lodi’s watershed best management practices (or BMPs) for the rainy season.
Students can help prepare for rain at home, as well!
- Encourage students to rake leaves out of the street’s gutter or yard. Compost leaves or add to garden waste cart.
- Have students draw a of their map their house and figure out where rooftop rainwater drains. Where are the downspouts? Where does the rain flow?
- Work out the math for how much rainwater can be captured from a rooftop (PDF), or at least redirected from street, and banked in your landscape’s soil. Rerouting rooftop rainwater to your landscape will do the Lodi watershed a world of good.
For the adults: Downspouts can be redirected to lawn area, away from the house or school, to help reduce runoff to river, and to recharge groundwater.
SLOW THE FLOW! Watch these films about stormwater from the California Water Boards, part of the California State Water Resources Control Board.
The What is a Watershed? flyer (PDF) is a good starting point on learning about the City of Lodi’s stormwater system, and the Water Map shows Lodi’s unique watershed. The city is totally dependent on the Mokelumne River and its watershed for its drinking water, either as surface water (from the river) or as groundwater.
How much rainwater comes off your rooftop, you ask?
Do the math. For example, on a 2,000-square-foot roof, you can collect 2,000 x 0.56 = 1,120 gallons/per inch of rain. If your average rainfall was 25 inches per year, your annual collection potential is 1,120 x 25 = 28,000 gallons per year.
Lodi’s total rainfall last year was approximately 9.05 inches.
This is the year we need to think about how to harvest the rainwater. Challenge your students to come up with ideas! We would love to hear about your lessons learned, to be shared on the website.
Stay well, and thanks!