Welcome to the Geneva Bioswale!

Bioswales provide a Low Impact Development (LID) way to manage stormwater runoff.  Stormwater runoff is of special concern in areas near roads or parking lots where much of the ground is impervious concrete or pavement.  Normally, runoff from streets and parking lots is diverted into underground storm drains where it travels to the nearest river.  If the runoff is too great, flooding can occur. If the runoff is heavily polluted with suspended solids or excess nutrients, fish in the river can be harmed.  Bioswales, however, allow some water to infiltrate into the soil to reduce runoff.  The rocks (check dams) and plants slow the water flow to allow for more infiltration.  Plants also absorb and filter water.  Microbes consume excess nutrients, reducing flow of nutrients into the river.  Unlike grass, the plants in the Geneva Bioswale do not need to be mowed so the bioswale requires little maintenance.  Our bioswale handles stormwater and provides of natural habitat for plants, insects, and birds. 

The Geneva Bioswale features a variety of flowering plants that are expected to attract local pollinating insects.  These plants include aster, thistle, crown vetch, goldenrod, and dandelions.  Butterflies and bees come to flowers to feed on nectar and pollen.  We hope that the bioswale will provide habitat for Monarchs as well as other species of Pennsylvania butterflies.  Monarch butterfly populations have been in decline due to habitat loss.  Their larvae are limited to eating from milkweed plants, although adults can drink nectar from other types of flowers.  The United States habitat for Monarchs is greatly reduced if we use herbicides to kill milkweed and other wildflowers along roads and fields.  The flowers in the Geneva Bioswale can provide food and habitat for Monarchs migrating through the area.  Blue-winged wasps may also come to drink goldenrod nectar.  This wasp is a beneficial insect to human gardening because its larva eat the larva of the pest species, such as Japanese beetles and June beetles. 

Bluebird boxes have been installed at the bioswale by the Geneva College Environmental Science students and Physical Plant staff.  This type of nesting box can provide habitat to bluebirds and tree swallows.  The boxes have been placed far enough apart to assure that competition over territory will not be a problem for the host birds.  Aluminum screening has also been attached to each support post to prevent snakes from climbing up and eating the birds or their eggs.  We hope to attract some bluebirds or tree swallows to add to the neighborhood wildlife.