Chanticleer Joins the Darby and Cobbs Creek Community Science Program
The Darby and Cobbs Creek Community Science Program (DCCCS) is a collaborative research project between the Darby Creek Valley Association and WCT’s Watershed Protection Program.
In May, Chanticleer became the first public garden to join the program as a community science sample site, with garden staff monitoring the health of Bell’s Run as it flows through 50 acres of Chanticleer’s property, 35 acres of which are open to the public. The garden is a study of textures and forms, where foliage trumps flowers, the gardeners lead the design, and even the drinking fountains are sculptural. It is a garden of pleasure and learning, relaxing yet filled with ideas to take home. Visit chanticleergarden.org to learn more.
Chanticleer strives to reduce its environmental impact. Solar panels produce 20% of their electricity. Cisterns capture 50,000 gallons of rainwater for irrigation, storm water basins help recharge groundwater, and most paths are permeable. Integrated pest management keeps plants healthy and promotes a strong population of insects. Meadows, sedges, ferns, and other lawn alternatives replace some turf. Since 1990, gardeners have planted hundreds of trees at the garden and along local streets in Wayne.
The addition of Chanticleer as a sampling location for the DCCCS Program was facilitated by volunteer turned WCT Director of Community Engagement, Gretchen Groebel, who has had the pleasure of collaborating with the garden in the past on meaningful environmental programming focused on backyard habitat. DCCCS volunteers, including those at Chanticleer, visit their sites once per month to measure key water quality indicators. Frequent monitoring at sites throughout the watershed enables the identification of healthy areas that should be protected and areas in need of restoration.
The Darby and Cobbs Creek Community Science Program has 33 sample sites, monitored monthly by over 40 volunteers, on Darby Creek and its tributaries, including Cobbs Creek. You might notice an extra “C” in our name. We recently added “Cobbs” to our name to reflect the importance of the largest tributary of Darby Creek. Visit darbycreekcommunityscience.com to learn more about the program and explore our results.
