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​​​Stormwater Features on the Bethesda Campus​

​This month, we are highlighting a few of the features of the Bethesda campus that help reduce stormwater runoff. Local water bodies are heavily impacted by stormwater runoff, which carries sediment, trash, chemicals and other pollution into the streams, rivers and other tributaries beyond our campus.^1​ These contaminants can jeopardize aquatic ecosystems throughout the entire affected watershed.^2​ Managing stormwater runoff is particularly important in the built environment, where impermeable surfaces like buildings and pavement reduce the amount of water that infiltrates into the ground and leads to increased amounts of stormwater runoff. As climate change leads to more frequent heavy precipitation events, these stormwater runoff features will become even more important at preserving water quality, reducing erosion and combatting flooding.

An important aspect of managing stormwater runoff is controlling the flow of water and reducing it wherever possible. Replacing impermeable surfaces with permeable ones allows water to penetrate the ground instead of creating runoff. The Bethesda campus has used permeable surfaces in various locations, such as the paths near Building 35 and 35A, the parking lot at the Northwest Child Care Center and the walking paths outside the fences on the North and West sides of campus. Another feature used to replace impermeable surfaces are green roofs. These sections of rooftop utilize plants to absorb water as it falls, thus capturing some of the water with plants and slowing down any water that leaves the green roof. Plant beds along the ground can serve a similar purpose, particularly when placed next to buildings. It is common to find succulent plants in these locations since they can absorb more water than many other similarly sized plant species. A few places where green roofs have been installed are at the NIH Visitor’s Center - Building 66, the Building 10 Library, Building 38A, Building 35A and MLP 11. A few places plant beds have been installed are in the Building 10 Courtyard and the Building 10 Library Terrace.

Natural areas act as a buffer to moderate stormwater runoff by absorbing water, creating barriers that slow the flow of water and providing places for the water to collect. By slowing the stormwater, it will cause less erosion, infiltrate the Earth’s surface more effectively and allow contaminants to be filtered or deposited before they can be carried to larger water bodies. Several areas around the edges of the Bethesda campus have been designated as natural or reforestation areas. These “no-mow” areas help filter out nutrients and sediment from runoff, while also providing habitats for local wildlife. The Stoney Creek Pond in the Southeast corner of campus provides a location for stormwater to settle before flowing to other tributaries. This retention pond provides drainage for a 204-acre area including parts of the Bethesda campus and the surrounding Bethesda community. The NIH Stream in the Northeast section of campus collects runoff from over 210 acres and acts as the main stormwater outfall for the Bethesda campus. The stream banks have been armored with boulders and rocks to combat erosion. Step pools have also been created in the stream to slow water flow. All these features combine to protect the Bethesda campus and all downstream tributaries from stormwater runoff.

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​Help Us Design A Kids Nature Scavenger Hunt!​ ​​We are requesting assistance from our readers with designing an Earth Day scavenger hunt for the Bethesda campus. If you know of any campus features, trees, animals or other forms of nature that would fit a scavenger hunt, please let us know! LEA​RN MORE​​​​

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​Give an Hour to the Earth! ​ ​The 17th occurrence of Earth Hour will take place at 8:30pm (local time) on March 25, 2023. Rather than turn out your lights for this year’s event, Earth Hour is requesting that everyone spend 60 minutes doing something positive for our planet. Read the article for a few ideas! LEARN MORE​

NEMS Training                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Did you know? Earth Hour has traditionally been a "lights out" movement to inspire action through increased awareness. We can accomplish a lot just by talking to others about our environmental passions! To learn more about sustainability at the NIH, please visit the NEMS Training webpage to view a short (20 minute) NIH environmental awareness training video.