Rain gardens can mitigate damage caused by stormwater runoff

VERMONT - Water plays a significant role in the health of landscapes in more ways than meets the eye. Stormwater is water that collects on the surface during and after a rainstorm, or from melting snow. Depending on the permeability and slope of the surface, stormwater can slowly infiltrate into the earth or wash over impermeable surfaces, picking up oils, debris, and pollutants along the way. Without sustainable mitigation strategies, this warm, polluted water can end up in local rivers, ponds, and lakes, adding silt and pollution directly into beautiful natural resources. This lowers water and habitat quality.
While stormwater management requires collaboration at many levels, including state, community, and private landowner, there are strategies individuals can implement to help manage stormwater runoff.
Utilizing plants is an excellent way to help treat stormwater runoff. In addition to adding beauty and food for wildlife and insects, plants prevent soil erosion, slow down water speeds, and soak up water and nutrients. One way to utilize plants for stormwater management is to build rain gardens. Rain gardens temporarily collect stormwater, allowing it to slowly infiltrate into the earth.They often are planted with a species that can tolerate both wet and dry soils because there will be times when the rain garden is either saturated or dry. For more details, check out the rain garden manual for Vermont and the Lake Champlain Basin at https://go.uvm.edu/raingarden.
Looking for other ideas for how to help mitigate stormwater runoff? A few simple things include trying to mow the lawn less often, cutting the grass no shorter than three inches, or even considering what areas could be left as meadow. If there is any open soil, plant a cover crop or add mulch to help keep the soil from eroding in rainstorms or snow melts. Live close to a river or pond? Make sure to leave a large planted buffer between the water’s edge and lawn. This will help filter stormwater runoff and pollutants from entering the water and lowering water quality.
Every one of these small changes can make a big impact on improving water quality, and creating a more sustainable world. Test one out and see the difference it can make.