 HighGrove is a "conservation designed" residential homesite development that features several best practices to maintain a "green environment." Click on a topic below to read more about HighGrove's commitment to conservation design.
 The New Green Standard: What is conservation design and what does it mean for the homesite and homeowner?
Conservation design, in marked contrast to conventional design practices, seeks to accomplish
the following environmental outcomes:
- Preservation of the prairie.
- Utilization of natural plantings, matched to soil types.
- Utilization of natural drainage practices.
- Preservation of the wetland and protection of the flood plain.
- Respect for all aspects of the natural environment.
- Presence of open prairie and common green spaces.
HighGrove is adjacent to the AuxSable Creek, and is mindful of the watershed areas
surrounding the creek and wetlands. While maintaining the above conservation practices,
residents will be able to access the conservancy areas through the established walking/running
natural pathways. An appreciation for and respect of the natural prairie will result in expanded
educational practices involved in conservation design.
Native Landscaping Some alternative stormwater management techniques employed in conservation development include a series of swales, rain gardens and pools that serve to slow the rain water, allowing it to infiltrate into the soil and evaporate into the air. Vegetated Swales border most homes, and are a ready means of carrying stormwater away from houses. Swales are long, shallow depressions that run into the drainage areas that line the streets. They are filled with native plants and flowers that bloom all year, providing a lovely landscape for residents. A Rain Garden is a beautiful wet garden in your yard that provides extra benefits to the overall community. A Rain Garden is a shallow depression that is planted in native wetland or wet prairie wildflowers and grasses. Rain water from your roof is directed into the garden where the runoff is absorbed into the ground or held in the depression. Because the water stays only temporarily, mosquitoes do not breed, yet both the absorption and detention help to clean the water that flows into the streams, lakes and wetlands - where stormwater runoff typically flows. While lovely, these gardens provide necessary services, as they are designed to control flooding, enhance water quality, and provide homes to birds.
Stormwater Management  HighGrove employs techniques that emulate natural systems in the stormwater management design with an approach called the Stormwater Treatment Train™ (STT). Historically, the goal of conventional engineering methods was “efficient conveyance,” which seeks to quickly export water as a waste product instead of beneficially using it. In fact, conventional strategies do the opposite of what nature does to manage stormwater. Instead of concentrating flows, nature disperses rain water, managing precipitation as close as possible to where it falls upon the land. Nature also manages stormwater by reducing water volumes and release rates while simultaneously cleaning the water through natural filtration processes. Stormwater Treatment Trains consist of a series of natural methods, including vegetated swales, rain gardens, and ponds that are engineered and ecologically designed for low maintenance, addressing site-specific stormwater runoff rates and water quality improvements. The STT is a landscape design that slowly moves water through natural features that infiltrate, evaporate, filter and clean stormwater. Some benefits include:
- Annual runoff can be reduced by 50% to 75%.
- Streams flow normally rather than flooding.
- Waterborne contaminants can be reduced by 70% to 100%.
- Traditional storm sewer systems are eliminated, with more cost-effective stormwater
management resulting.
- Beautiful, natural landscapes in the gardens, prairies, and wetlands provide habitat
for animals and enhance the quality of life for residents.
Open Space: Restoration & Recreation Recreation: Open space areas within the development are used for trail systems. The trail systems provide residents with passive recreation, with little disturbance of preserved or restored natural features. Conservation education along the trails or in the more formal natural area provides residents with increased knowledge of their environment. Many residents also appreciate the open space for wildlife viewing, bird watching or photography. Restoration: The areas that are designated as restoration or preservation areas were determined prior to the design of the development. These areas were determined by the ability to expand adjacent areas near the development; buffering of more fragile resources or high quality natural areas; buffering of restored areas; or the connection of adjacent trail systems. |
