An area planted with a mixture of grasses and forbs specially chosen to attract birds, butterflies, and other beneficial wildlife.  Many bird and insect species have very specific needs, and planting a bird and butterfly garden increases available habitat.

A vegetated area that is used to clean stormwater before draining into  a water body or storm sewer.   Sometimes called a Vegetated Strip or Filter Strip. 

Collects stormwater from an impervious surface and conveys the water to a rain garden or other stormwater management system.  Sometimes called a Trench Drain or Rain Grate.

An illustration or series of illustrations that help convey an idea, strategy and/or program for a design project.  Concept designs are often used as preliminary method in the design process to help both the client and designer visualize design opportunities.  

Generally the strip of concrete at the edge of a roadway or parking lot.  The curb is designed to keep automobiles where they’re supposed to be, and the gutter helps to direct stormwater running off the paved surface.  Curb and gutter is required by most cities, though we minimize its use to reduce costs and to favor other methods for managing stormwater.

A section of curb and gutter that has been removed to convey stormwater into a filter strip, rain garden, or other stormwater management strategy.

Usually a light-duty roadway that connects a public street to a garage where automobiles are stored.  When improperly installed or maintained, driveways can significantly increase the environmental impacts of a site by increasing and polluting runoff.  The impact of a driveway can be reduced by reducing the amount of paved area, by using permeable paving materials, and by designing the driveway to drain to an area where its runoff can be properly treated.

Mimics a real creek bed and can be installed where large volumes of runoff flow across an area after a rainfall event.  The dry creek bed uses rocks to slow the flow of the water and to direct it to an area where it can be more effectively managed.  Can be a very attractive aesthetic feature in your landscape.   

Involves the use of edible plants as part of a landscaping plan.  Different from a vegetable garden, edible landscaping focuses on perennials like strawberries, blueberries and asparagus.

Includes plants that are used to being constantly wet.  These plants grow along lakes and streams. 

Used in many stormwater management systems when existing soils are not adequate for infiltrating large volumes of stormwater during or after a storm event. Soils can be engineered for specific purposes including rain gardens, green roofs and porous pavers.  Engineered soils generally include sand, compost, and aggregate material (like gravel) that allows for large pore space. 

Refers to work that must be completed by a licensed engineer.  Earth Wizards has relationships with engineering firms and partner with these firms when needed to ensure a project is properly designed.

Necessary on slopes and in areas where runoff can wash soils, sediment, and pollutants downstream.  Deep-rooted native plants provide the best, most sustainable erosion control.  Other erosion control techniques are used temporarily while sustainable vegetation is being established. Erosion control can also include erosion control blankets, brush packing., and other bioengineering techniques.

Works like a ditch filled with aggregate material.  The trench may be covered with growing plants.  The aggregate material removes suspended materials and other pollutants from water that is directed to the trench.  Water exiting a filter trench is significantly cleaner when it enters a receiving water body. 

The removal of suspended sediments, contaminants, floatables and other pollutants from stormwater runoff before conveyance to a storm sewer or water body.  Filtration can be used as a pre-treatment method as part of a series of other stormwater strategies.  This strengthens the system’s effectiveness and prolongs its effective lifespan. 

Refers to the installation of flat concrete slabs, often as sidewalks, steps, or driveway entrances.

Involves changing the slope of the land.  Grading can be used to direct water away from an area (like a home’s foundation), or toward an area (like a rain garden). Grading can also minimize the effects of erosion and can manage runoff more effectively. 

Uses growing plants as part of a building’s roof system to improve building performance.  Benefits can include extending the life expectancy of the roof, reducing heating and cooling costs, managing stormwater, as well as aesthetic and therapeutic benefits.  A green rooftop generally includes a waterproofing membrane, a root barrier, insulation, a drainage system, engineered growing medium and plants.  

Uses living plant material growing vertically along an interior or exterior wall to reduce cooling costs, improve air quality, manage stormwater and provide aesthetic benefits.   

use a grid (often high-strength recycled plastic) to provide structure under a , driveway or parking lot. The grid provides structural integrity to the area for use, whether for pedestrian usage or traffic needs (typically overflow areas for parking).  These systems are installed atop sand or clean, washed aggregate to allow for infiltration and can be filled with more clean, washed aggregate or turf.   

The use of stone, concrete or rock around water structures.  It is typically used on river or stream bends, around and near stormsewer outlets or other areas where there is erosion potential from high water velocities.  Oftentimes these techniques are installed incorrectly and should be combined with bioengineering to allow for large water level fluctuations in the receiving water body.  

(or Impervious Surface) Eliminates or severely limits infiltration.  Examples include roads, parking lots, sidewalks and buildings.

The process in which rain water seeps down through topsoils and recharges groundwater resources.  Typical infiltration practices may include rain gardens, permeable pavements, infiltration trenches and other stormwater management techniques.

The process of gathering information about the many factors that influence infiltration on a site including slope, soil type, hard surfaces, and other factors. When these factors are considered together it is possible to model the impact of a specific rain event on a given site. 

An undesirable, non-native plant that spreads quickly and threatens native vegetation.  Common invasive plants include dandelions, quack grass, buckthorn, and purple loostrife.

The watering of vegetation.  Some plants require constant irrigation to survive a hot, dry summer.  Native plants are much more drought-tolerant and require irrigation only during an establishment period.  

Key to the long-term sustainability of any project.  From the very beginning a project should be planned to keep in mind the type of long-term maintenance that will be required, who will perform this maintenance, budgetary requirements, and whether the maintenance requirements are realistic. 

The process of developing a comprehensive plan for a single site, neighborhood, municipality, or region.  Successful master planning involves analyzing social, political, ecological, economic and infrastructural relationships of the design area.  The design process usually involves several meetings with the client and other interested parties such as community members.  Master plans may be implemented on a scale of several years time.   

We tend to encourage this in our projects, because plants that are native to a region are best adapted to local soils, fauna and weather conditions, and require the least maintenance.  Native plantings can take a wide range of appearances, from very formal plantings to more natural looking landscapes

A specialized mixture designed to allow water to pass through it. The mixture should be placed upon a permeable underlayment, such as a washed granite, to infiltrate the runoff to the subsoils. Permeable Concrete uses less mortar and less sand than traditional concrete mix, leaving more void space between aggregate materials.  Water that falls on permeable concrete is allowed to move through these voids and into a drainage area below.

Concrete bricks that are designed with a slightly larger joint space.  When laid on a proper permeable base, it will allow the water to pass through.   

Allows water to pass through it and into the soils below.  Traditional asphalt, concrete, and roofs are not permeable.  These surfaces can be designed for permeability 

The process of obtaining permission from a municipality or other public entity to complete a project.  The permitting process generally includes demonstrating that the project will comply with all locally applicable rules and regulations.

A constructed shallow depression in the earth where surface water runoff is collected and allowed to be infiltrated into the soils, evaporated into the atmosphere and transpirated by plants that are installed for that purpose.  A raingarden is not a pond or a water garden.  When designed correctly, it will infiltrate water at a rate that does not allow water to stand for more than two days.  Many only have standing water for an hour or two. 

Used on deteriorating asphalt parking lots, or very large driveways, where the existing asphalt and underlayment is ground in-place and is used for the base aggregate for a new paving surface.   

A mixture of asphalt incorporating a percentage of used asphalt or concrete. 

Hold stormwater for a short period of time, allowing water to infiltrate into underlying soils.   Bioretention systems are retention systems that use plants.  Storage for longer periods is called Detention.   

A detailed design drawn to scale. As compared to a Concept Design, a scaled design contains ideas that are more fully developed.

A protective layer that is periodically installed on top of an asphalt surface that increases the lifespan of the paved surface.

The process of naturalizing the area along a lake to prevent erosion, create habitat and filter runoff.   

Includes the use of stones for constructing patios, steps, retaining walls or other features. 

Can be used interchangeably with the term ‘Rain Water’.

Used to hold stormwater for a long period of time, allowing pollutants to settle to the bottom and allowing water to evaporate.  When filled, it generally drains into a storm sewer system.  This strategy is often used to extend the time during a storm event before stormwater enters the storm sewer system.

A strategy used in some areas to reduce runoff in a watershed.  In cities with a Stormwater Utility Fee, credits can be offered to property owners who make efforts to reduce runoff.  In Minneapolis, a property owner can obtain a credit for up to 100 percent of the stormwater fee.

Involves collecting and storing stormwater for future use.  Water is usually stored in a rain barrel or cistern, and can be used for irrigation and grey water usage.  Different methods are used for cleaning stormwater before it is stored or reused. 

Part of the stormwater permitting process that identifies potential sources of stormwater pollution, lists practices that can be used to reduce pollutants, and demonstrates how a project complies with locally applicable rules and regulations for stormwater. 

Used in some cities to charge a fee to property owners according to the area of hard surface on a property.  This is generally considered to be a fair way to distribute the costs of a city’s storm sewer system.  The City of Minneapolis incorporated a stormwater utility fee in 2005.

The process of naturalizing the area along a stream to prevent erosion, create habitat and filter runoff.   

Refers to plants that may not be native to our region but which many homeowners find desirable.  Having an environmentally sustainable landscape does not mean we need to do away with our favorite varieties of roses, bulbs, or ornamental trees that were imported to our region.  When choosing traditional plantings, care should be taken to avoid those which are invasive or compromise locally native varieties.

Includes plants that are adapted to survive long dry periods and occasional very wet periods.  These plant communities are useful near lakeshores, streams, and in rain gardens where water levels fluctuate.  

Includes plants that are adapted to survive in dry conditions and that can survive periods of drought.

A transitional zone between a runoff source and a receiving water body.  Plants are used to slow runoff, allowing it to infiltrate and filter through plants before it reaches a lake, stream or wetland area.  

The area of land that drains into a water body.

A low-lying area that is frequently inundated by ground water.  The vegetation growing in a wetland is predominantly Emergent Vegetation with root systems that are adapted to being wet for long periods.