Rain Garden Creates Natural Filters

Rain gardens are shallow depressions landscaped with native plants. They are designed to catch rainwater runoff from impervious surfaces such as roofs, walkways, and driveways. The rain garden on this site collects and filters runoff from the parking lot. Rain gardens:

• Keep pollutants from reaching local waterways.
• Reduce flooding problems.
• Provide habitat for beneficial birds and insects.
• Refresh local groundwater.
• Offer low-maintenance landscaping.

Rain garden plants must be able to tolerate both standing water and periods of drought. An emergency overflow sends excess water directly into the stormwater system. A thick layer of rain garden soil stores water and nutrients for plants and helps absorb pollutants.
 

Coastal Strawberry (Fragraria chiloensis)

  

Oregon Grape (Mahonia repens)
 

Redtwig Dogwood (Cornus sericea)

  

Swordleaf Rush (Juncus ensifolius)

Coastal Strawberry & Redtwig Dogwood photos courtesy of Susan McDougall