Controlling runoff and protecting salmon, one rain garden at a time

Volunteers pitch in to plant a new rain garden for homeowners Dianne Bennett and Steve Mrowiek.
Volunteers pitch in to plant a new rain garden for homeowners Dianne Bennett and Steve Mrowiek.

For the second time in less than a year, Edmonds residents are coming together to help control excessive storm water runoff in their neighborhood by building a cluster of rain gardens.

A half dozen homeowners between Edmonds City Park and the Town of Woodway are the latest to become part of the joint project spearheaded by the Snohomish Conservation District, the City of Edmonds and WSU Master Gardeners to use rain gardens to help mitigate storm water runoff and erosion, while providing and enhancing habitat for everything from soil organisms to birds to tree frogs. They join a similar group from the Perrinville area, who built a cluster of rain gardens last fall (see My Edmonds News coverage here.

A rain garden acts as a natural trap for runoff from roofs, roadways and other impervious surfaces. The base soil acts as a sponge that absorbs and slowly releases the water, while filtering out particulates and providing habitat for a rich flora of micro-organisms that help remove contaminants (from The Rain Garden Handbook published by the Washington State Department of Ecology and WSU Extension Service).
A rain garden acts as a natural trap for runoff from roofs, roadways and other impervious surfaces. The base soil acts as a sponge that absorbs and slowly releases the water, while filtering out particulates and providing habitat for a rich flora of micro-organisms that help remove contaminants (from The Rain Garden Handbook published by the Washington State Department of Ecology and WSU Extension Service).

According to Kate Riley, program manager for the Snohomish Conservation District, rain gardens can help restore many critical benefits that are lost as the built environment becomes more pervasive. She points out that contaminated runoff has already been identified as the major cause of juvenile salmon deaths.

“These fish depend on spawning and rearing areas free of pollution and contamination,” she said. “A big part of the solution is better management of runoff water, and rain gardens are one way to help make this happen. It’s an easy, inexpensive, low impact way to manage runoff.”

Kate Riley of the Snohomish County Conservation District instructs volunteers about how to plant the various perennials and shrubs to maximize their effectiveness in the rain garden. Plant materials were provided by T&L Nursery, Vibrant Nursery, and Go Native Nursery.
Kate Riley of the Snohomish County Conservation District instructs volunteers about how to plant the various perennials and shrubs to maximize their effectiveness in the rain garden. Plant materials were provided by T&L Nursery, Vibrant Nursery, and Go Native Nursery.

Interested in learning more or becoming part of a future neighborhood rain garden project? Just click here and take the Snohomish County Conservation District’s five-minute rain garden survey. In addition to joining their rain garden contact list, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a free rain barrel.

For more information and links where you can learn more about rain gardens, how they work and how to build them, go to My Edmonds News’ story regarding last fall’s rain garden project, or contact Kate Riley directly at 425-377-7004 or by email at kate@snohomishcd.org.

— Story and photos by Larry Vogel

 

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