Rain Gardens
A rain garden collects stormwater runoff from the driveway, street, or roof of a house. The garden is sized to collect the rain that falls during a 1" storm. A critical reason for this sizing is because the water will drain faster than mosquitos can reproduce in the standing water.
Large puddles after a storm made the driveway of this property difficult to use before the garden was installed. Now, rainwater is diverted away from the driveway and away from storm drains in order to prevent flooding, protect a nearby creek, and allow for groundwater recharge. The plants in the garden attract an array of wildlife, including butterflies, dragonflies, bumblebees, and goldfinches.
Large puddles after a storm made the driveway of this property difficult to use before the garden was installed. Now, rainwater is diverted away from the driveway and away from storm drains in order to prevent flooding, protect a nearby creek, and allow for groundwater recharge. The plants in the garden attract an array of wildlife, including butterflies, dragonflies, bumblebees, and goldfinches.
Drybed Creeks
Stormwater once poured between two adjacent houses as runoff collecting from a roof and other properties uphill. A drybed creek now slows the flow of water, allowing some to percolate back into the ground and the rest to slowly run to the street. The area is no longer being eroded, the roots of several large oak trees are being protected, and ferns and other perennials native to the region have begun to take hold.
Vegetated Swales
A vegetated swale captures and directs water from where it once puddled in a backyard and at the mouth of downspouts coming off of a roof. Rocks help slow water flowing from a patio and, along with native plants, provide habitat.
Pollinator Gardens
Converting part of your lawn to a pollinator garden is a great way to add beauty to your yard, increase stormwater infiltration, improve soil health, decrease your carbon footprint, and help pollinators. Enjoying your garden instead of mowing the grass in the summer sun is an added bonus!
Ponds
Ponds can be small and hidden or a main feature of your landscape. If you keep them free of fish and plant native plants in and around them you'll find new neighbors quickly take up residence, including frogs, toads, bees, butterflies, bats, and birds!
This pond captures runoff from over 50% of the roof that sits behind it, as well as a portion of runoff from the road that runs along the front of the property. It has a clay bottom but no liner, allowing water to slowly infiltrate back into the ground. It's only completely empty after a 2-month drought.