Communities and homeowners in many parts of the country are catching on to rain gardens – landscaped areas planted to wild flowers and other native vegetation that soak up rain water, mainly from parking lots, lawns and the roofs of houses or other buildings. The rain garden is designed to catch the first half inch of runoff, containing most of the pollution. The garden fills with a few inches of water after a storm and the water slowly filters into the ground rather than running off to a storm drain or into streams or lakes. Compared to a conventional patch of lawn, a rain garden allows about 30% more water to soak into the ground.

Why are rain gardens important? As cities and suburbs grow and replace forests and agricultural land, increased stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces becomes a problem. Stormwater runoff from developed areas increases flooding; carries pollutants from streets, parking lots and even lawns into local streams and lakes; and leads to costly municipal improvements in stormwater treatment structures. By reducing stormwater runoff, rain gardens can be a valuable part of changing these trends.

While an individual rain garden may seem like a small thing, collectively they produce substantial neighborhood and community environmental benefits. Rain gardens work for us in several ways:

• Increasing the amount of water that filters into the ground, which recharges local and regional aquifers
• Helping protect communities from flooding and drainage problems
• Helping protect streams and lakes from pollutants carried by urban stormwater – lawn fertilizers and pesticides, oil and other fluids that leak from cars, and numerous harmful  substances that wash off roofs and paved areas
• Enhancing the beauty of yards and neighborhoods
• Providing valuable habitat for birds, butterflies and many beneficial insects.

Rain Garden