Rain Gardens, Clean River

Marietta Region Rain Garden Initiative

What is Rain Gardens, Clean Rivers?

Rain Gardens, Clean River is a best management practice (BMP) project the FLMR is initiating in Marietta. Our vision is to construct rain gardens in residential, commercial and community areas throughout Marietta where their presence will be most effective in treating stormwater runoff before it reaches our storm drains and flows into our rivers.

What is a Rain Garden?

A rain garden is an attractive landscaping feature planted with beautiful perennial native plants. It is a bowl-shaped or saucer-shaped garden with deep, loose soil, designed to absorb stormwater run-off from impervious surfaces such as roofs and parking lots.

Rain gardens can be small, formal, home-owner style gardens, large complex bioretention gardens, or anywhere in between.

Why do we need rain gardens?

Rain is natural; stormwater isn't. Government studies have shown that up to 70% of the pollution in our streams, rivers and lakes is carried there by stormwater. Although most people never think about stormwater, about half of the pollution that stormwater carries comes from things we do in our yards and gardens!

Planting a rain garden may seem like a small thing, but if you calculate the amount of rain that runs off your roof, you would be very surprised. That rain is supposed to soak into the ground, but instead heads down the street to the storm drain. This untreated stormwater is then diverted directly into our rivers, carrying pollution with it the entire way.

Keeping rain where it falls, by putting it into a rain garden, is a natural solution. You not only get a lovely garden out of it, you have the added benefit of helping protect our rivers and streams from stormwater pollution. You can be part of a beautiful solution!

Benefits of a Rain Garden

Rain gardens are an inexpensive, simple to implement and environmentally sound solution to urban stormwater runoff.

A Rain Garden will:

• 1. Filter runoff pollution

• 2. Recharge local groundwater

• 3. Conserve water

• 4. Improve water quality

• 5. Protect rivers and streams

• 6. Remove standing water in your yard

• 7. Reduce mosquito breeding

• 8. Increase beneficial insects that eliminate pest
• 9. Reduce potential of home flooding

• 10. Create habitat for birds & butterflies

• 11. Survive drought seasons

• 12. Reduce garden maintenance

• 13. Enhance sidewalk appeal

14. Increase garden enjoyment

Click here to view the Rain Gardens, Clean River brochure!