Rain Gardens

Our waterways are not as clean as they once were due to water pollution, such as stormwater runoff. Storm water is water from rain or melting snow that does not quickly soak into the ground. Storm water runs from rooftops, over driveways, sidewalks, and lawns, collecting and carrying pollutants, such as dirt, pet waste, oil and grease, pesticides, fertilizers, leaves, and litter into our waterways.

Unfiltered & Untreated

Houses and neighborhoods that are not next to a stream or lake can still contribute to the problem. Storm drains found in most local neighborhoods are designed to move runoff from your neighborhood to the nearest body of water. While many people believe otherwise, stormwater is not filtered in wastewater treatment plants before entering streams and rivers. Storm drains carry unfiltered and untreated water directly into our local rivers and streams. Lots of pollution from stormwater runoff can make our waterways very unhealthy for people, plants, and animals.

Protect Our Streams

Help us green our neighborhoods and protect our streams by building a rain garden in a local watershed. Participate in a community rain garden planting or install a rain garden in your own yard! Read the tips on this page in creating a rain garden that will help to keep our waters healthy and protect our community from flooding and polluted runoff during storms.

Further Information

For more details on building your own rain garden or getting involved in the rain water garden community efforts, contact The Rain Gardens for the Bays Campaign, supported by the Mid-Atlantic Estuary Program, state, and local partners, which hopes to collaborate to encourage healthier waterways by creating thousands of rain gardens in our backyards, school campuses, town halls, libraries, local businesses and on our corporate lands.