Creekcare

Transpiration by Trees

Stormwater Management, Mimicking Nature, Transpiration & Trees

iron bark canopy Encouraging transpiration by growing trees in urban catchments, decreases flooding, reduces water pollution, enhances biodiversity and improves stormwater management. Urban bushcreeks surrounded by trees will create green corridors helping animals to migrate through hostile suburbs. Mimicking nature and growing trees are useful assets in the application of water sensitive urban design.

Open space is enhanced by mimicking nature with trees and bushcreeks making parks more popular. Using concrete and steel for stormwater management is often not popular with the public.

paper bark tree and canopy Gross Pollution Traps (GPT) are used to trap litter and are expensive to empty and councils are sometimes slow to maintain and empty GPT. Councils tend to maintain popular examples of mimicking nature so as not to upset local residents. Who cares about a concrete GPT? Mimicking nature is becoming more politically acceptable than using concrete and steel in managing urban stormwater.

Local community groups are often the driving force behind planting trees and mimicking nature. In Whites Creek Valley, the Peace Park was initiated by Rozelle Bay Community Native Nursery.

The planting of trees has a positive education value and school children are involved in planting days next to the wetlands. Many school and adult groups visit the wetlands. Universities have undertaken studies, including an initial feasibility study of the wetlands. An excellent education DVD Creating an urban wildspace is available from al media productions.

When local residents and bushcare groups are involved in wetlands and planting trees they develop a sense of ownership and a duty of care. When pollution events and other problems occur the authorities are quickly informed.