A Rain Garden In Every Community
In the Rock River Basin

Many of the communities in the Rock River Basin struggle with issues of storm water and falling groundwater levels. One solution that can help alleviate the problem is to build a rain garden. The Rock River Coalition has funds to work with eleven schools to incorporate stormwater into the 5-9 grade curriculum and have the students help design and build a rain garden. (more information below.)

Rain Gardens are perennial gardens of native plants. They protect surface water quality while adding beauty to the yard. Water from the roof or pavement is routed to the garden where it soaks in instead of running off.

This mid-summer rain garden is beautiful and absorbs 4,000 gallons of rain water each year.

Why Build a Rain Garden?

• Water soaks in replenishes groundwater and helps prevent flooding.
• A rain garden protects water quality by trapping sediment, fertilizers and other pollutants.
• It needs no additional fertilizer and little pesticides.
• Native plants provide food and shelter for butterflies, song birds and other animals.

A formal rain garden before planting, showing the flat bottom and raised sides.

A typical rain garden:

• Is a sunken garden 4-8 inches deep
• Has a flat bottom
• Is 1/3 the size of the area draining to it- usually 75-300 square feet in size
• Can be formal or informal in design
• Drains within two days.

Through the work of the Rock River Coalition’s Outreach Coordinator, nine rain gardens have been installed in communities in the Rock River Basin.

During 2006 we will expand this to another nine communities through A Rain Garden in Every Community project. This new effort will have us working with students, teachers and community groups. For a school or community to participate in this exciting project, the RRC needs there to be a teacher in grades 5-9 who is willing to teach about stormwater and rain gardens for three years, a public location near the school to install a rain garden, the agency or school that owns the property the rain garden is on must agree to maintain the rain garden for five years. The RRC will also need help acquiring the funds needed to purchase plants, for excavation and for part of the rain garden design consultant fee.

• A Rain Garden in Every Community EPA grant (selected portions)
• Rock River Coalition Rain Garden Site
• Rain Garden Curriculum: Understanding Urban Concerns & Taking Action through Rain Gardens

Other Rain Garden educational materials from the state include :

• Rain Garden Sign (jpg 694KB)
• Rain Garden Education Kit Order Form (doc 33KB)
• Rain Garden Brochure (pdf)
• Rain Garden Manual (pdf)
• Rain Garden Links 

If you are interested in establishing a rain garden or would like to help with an installation of a rain garden or just need some additional information, please contact Ellen Rulseh, Rock River Coalition Community Outreach Coordinator at (920) 674-7443 or rriver@excel.net.