Build a Rain Garden

 
Stormwater runoff from urban and suburban areas is the only source of Bay pollution that is growing.  When it rains, water runs off hard surfaces such as roads, parking lots, rooftops and sidewalks into storm drains and local streams.  As it runs off, the stormwater picks up pollution from fertilizers, septic tanks, dog poop, motor oil and other contaminants.
 
 
One way to decrease this runoff is to build rain gardens around these hard surfaces to absorb the rain.  Planted with native shrubs and flowers, these areas will add to the beauty of your property while performing a wonderful pollution-control function.
 
There are a number of sources of excellent information about rain gardens.  Here are a few of our favorites:

•  Rainscaping with Rain Gardens (2.7 MB, 12 pages) by Zora Lathan & Thistle A. Cone of the Chesapeake
   Ecology Center
•  Ecoscaping Back to the Future .. Restoring Chesapeake Landscapes (3.8 MB, 94 pages) by Zora Lathan &
   Thistle A. Cone of the Chesapeake Ecology Center
•  Rainscaping.org

 
Live in Anne Arundel County, Maryland?  You may be eligible to receive a tax credit of 10% of the cost of your rain garden, payable over the next five years!  Learn more...