PUTTING STORMWATER TO USE
            Rain is a convenient topic of conversation. If runoff from a rain event stays out of our homes and out of our way, we barely notice that roads, parking lots, rooftops with their downspouts, and lawns make water flow faster over the surface carrying pollutants with it and not allowing water to infiltrate the ground.
            Rural and urban landowners can use a rain garden to improve water quality and make better use of rainfall. A rain garden is just what it sounds like – a garden that soaks up rainwater. It is a shallow level depression planted with perennials, usually native plants, located to intercept rainwater flowing from downspouts and drainage ways. The garden fills with a few inches of water and allows the water to slowly filter into the ground rather than running off to storm drains, ditches, or streams. Compared to a patch of conventional lawn, a rain garden allows at least 30 percent more water to soak into the ground.
            Included in the benefits are: increasing the amount of water infiltrating the ground, keeping pollutants and sediment from washing off into streams and lakes; providing valuable wildlife habitat including food and shelter for birds; enhancing the beauty of your yard, and helping to protect from flooding and drainage problems.
            How can you make a rain garden? Choose a spot in the normal drainage pattern of your yard or an area that receives run off from your roof. Information is available from the Master Gardeners Desk at UI-Extension in Stephenson County, 235-4125. The booklet “Rain Gardens” is available from the UW-Extension, 45 N. Charter St., Madison, WI 53715, (608) 262-3346. Directions are available on the Internet by searching Rain Gardens.    
Give your rain garden time to grow. Weeds have a hard time growing in a mature rain garden. Old stalks can be cut back or mowed in the spring to give the new growth a good start. Some work is required to get the rain garden started but once it is established, it pretty much takes care of itself. You can sit back and enjoy the garden and the environmental benefits.
            You can see a rain garden designed and built by a local landscaper on the south side of the house with red siding at 2418 Glenview Drive, Freeport, (one block west of Highway 26 North at the end of Robin Drive). The rain garden was constructed on a steep slope to take the run off tiled underground from the driveway and the roof of the house. Before the rain garden, the stormwater from the outlet was discharged over the lawn to a street. Note that rain gardens on nearly level ground are much simpler to construct. You are invited to stop by, get out of your car, and take a look.

Della Moen, Earth Team Volunteer, NRCS/Stephenson Soil and Water Conservation District, an equal opportunity provider and employer, 05/05/10 (for publication on 05/08/10 in the Journal-Standard, Freeport, Illinois) Della can be reached at info@stephensonswcd.org