SkillCraft Body Shop Inc. - Huntington Beach, CA

Description

Last winter during a heavy rain we had an issue with one of our buildings where water was running across our property and carrying mud into the storm drain. After a visit from a city worker, I was prompted to take action.

Just as we were thinking about irrigation and planting, I stumbled upon a photo of an OFG on the Huntington Beach Chamber website. I called Marilee Movius at the Chamber to see if she could give me any information about it. She was so helpful; she explained to me about the Surfrider Foundation and referred me to Greg Goran from Green Scene Sustainable Landscapes, and the Ocean Friendly Gardens Chair for the HB/Seal Beach chapter. Greg met with me several times, gave me advice and guidance on soil prep, California native and drought tolerant plants as well as explaining “Conservation, Permeability, and Retention.”
After we amended the soil with organic compost, we contoured a dry creek bed from our downspout to the end of the property. We then purchased some drought tolerant grasses and ground covers as well as some Calif. Natives. Marilee and Greg then recruited some volunteers and helped plant them! (thank you guys). We also dug a large hole 3 ft. wide and 3 ft. deep that we filled with gravel to act as a catch basin, and built a retention berm with boulders and larger rocks below that to retain any additional water from leaving the site. We stuck with a simple plant pallet of some Agave attenuatas, Senecio serpens, and Pennesetum, while all around the edge we planted with blue fescue, creeping thyme, and other ground covers to ensure any water that does leave is cleaned and silt free.
I am very pleased with the outcome and I am already planning on doing more of this. In addition to the environmental benefits it is attractive, I will save on my water bill and I don’t have to pay a gardener! I am a happy camper! It's hard to estimate how much runoff is captured, as our garden captures runoff from sidewalk and neighboring businesses, but it no longer flows into our doorway and silts up the storm drain.
The garden is located just off of Cedar dr. behind body shop, 2 blocks south of Warner ave.