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Rain Gardens and Bioretention Basins To Improve Water Quality and Save 30% More Rainwater
Rain Gardens Soak Up 30% More WaterCalifornia's water supply is more fragile and seasonal than in most of the country because we are in "the West". Seasonal rains in our desert areas can be severe, and water retention for the rest of the year is dependent on snowpack, water tables and manmade lakes. Capture Fresh Water and Prevent RunoffWhen rains come, we need to capture that fresh water for use by the flora and fauna in our communities. Capturing it also prevents runoff from roofs, streets, parking lots and lawns from washing pollutants into streams, rivers, lakes and eventually the ocean. Runoff pollutants can include fertilizers, pesticides, car waste such as oil and fluids, pet waste and its bacteria, eroded soil, road salt, grass clippings and litter. Rain gardens will not remove ALL these pollutants, but they do remove some of them as the water seeps into the ground, which serves as a natural filter.Rain Gardens Designed as Cache BasinA beautiful, useful way to capture rainwater runoff is with a "raingarden" that is well designed, well placed and serves as a cache basin that filters and helps the water find its way to the roots of plants...and our watertable.Rain gardens look like regular flower gardens but they are more -- a rain garden fills with a few inches of water and allows the water to slowly filter into th ground rather than running off to the storm drains. Benefits of rain gardens include beauty for the neighborhood, providing habitat for wildlife such as butterflies and frogs...and they save our fresh water supply. Rain gardens are designed to catch water from roofs, driveways or streets. They can be located on private property, in parks, and incorporated into corporate campuses or shopping center parking lots.. An area that is relatively flat or has a slight slope with good drainage is most effective. Remember, you want the water to soak into the soil rapidly. Landscape Design Tips for Rain GardensRain gardens are NOT solutions for wet areas -- they must have good drainage. Water must soak into the soil within 24 hours to prevent water buildup that becomes a mosquito breeding ground.
RESOURCESYou'll find a variety of reference materials about rain gardens at this Water Resources Program website ... including: Landscaper Training Program for Rain Gardens - Fact Sheet 29, Cornell University Cooperative Extension, 2007California trees and shrubs recommended for your rain gardens. A list of California trees and shrubs to brighten and enliven your rain garden. Low Impact Development with rain gardens. Download a PDF.
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