Connecting the Drops Rain Barrel Project hits downtown

The Let it Rain Stormwater Program recently installed art-adorned rain barrels in downtown Burlington. This exhibit aims to raise awareness about stormwater pollution in Lake Champlain and what property owners can do to mitigate its impact.
Funded by the ECOS Project through the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission and the Chittenden County Regional Stormwater Education Program, the Connecting the Drops installation brings together the vibrant Burlington arts community with an important environmental message ‘stormwater is damaging the health of Lake Champlain, and our land-use decisions make a difference.
‘Urban stormwater runoff is a leading concern for pollution in Lake Champlain and the waterways that feed it," Rebecca Tharp, program coordinator said. "Often, the first flush of water in a rain event contains levels of contamination at higher levels than are normally found in sewage. It’s vital that we reduce the flow of pollutants off of our cityscapes. Installing rain barrels, rain gardens, green roofs and pervious pavements are excellent ways to do that.’
Nineteen rain barrels are positioned from the top of Church Street (at Pearl Street) and down College Street to the doors of the ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center. Each barrel features a panel of the Kids VT water story illustrated by local artist Matt Morris. As visitors walk the trail from the top of Church Street down College Street to the shore of Lake Champlain, they can read the panels mounted atop the barrels to learn about the way stormwater damages Lake Champlain and what each of us can do to intercept the runoff through the use of ‘green infrastructure.’
Green infrastructural improvements such as rain gardens, rain barrels, green roofs and pervious pavement help to capture, store, treat and infiltrate stormwater where it originates, lessening pressure on municipal systems and eliminating a major source of pollutants to Lake Champlain.
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center will host an ‘investigation table’featuring samples of pervious and conventional concrete, a rain chain and a rain barrel. Visitors can conduct their own rain water experiments on the two concrete materials and see what makes them so different during a rain event. Inside ECHO's Lake Champlain Resource Room visitors can investigate how rain gardens and rain barrels work by looking at them up-close and by asking the Lake Champlain Basin Program staff for instructions on how to create original stormwater landscaping. While on the waterfront, stroll past two examples of rain gardens, one in the College Street turnaround and one at ECHO's Dealer.com Terrace near the Lake. You don't want to miss the art in nature.
To incentivize property owners in Vermont’s Lake Champlain Valley to use green infrastructure practices, the Let it Rain Stormwater Program offers financial incentives to offset installation costs. All of the displayed barrels will be available for purchase at a live auction during SEABA’s South End Art Hop on September 6, and one lucky winner will be selected to take home the first barrel on the Kids VT water story walk for free. Participants can sign up for a chance to win at www.letitrainvt.org ‘or scan the QR code on the sign atop each barrel.
ArtsRiot,with support from Signal Kitchen, is coordinating an additional connection with the arts community through six Wednesday evening concerts right on Church St. from June 26 to July 31 at 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. These events will feature local and touring acts, games, educational information, prizes and giveaways.
Frog Hollow will host the exhibit banner in their front window with a synopsis of the exhibit, a map of the barrel locations, artist names and partners. For more information visit: letitrainvt.org.