Welcome to The Value of Rain Gardens

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Welcome to The Value of Rain Gardens!
Produced by University of WI - Extension WI DNR
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Rain, Rain Go Away
Rain, Rain Go Away!
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The rain that falls here
Soaks into the Earth
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where it replenishes ournatural waterways.
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96
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Rural City Comparison
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Rain falls on our roadways,parking lots roofs
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Water emerges at a high velocity through storm
sewer systems.
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Baseflow
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Impacts of imperviousness

• 1) Reduces infiltration
• Diminished base flow
• Lost wetlands
• Increased temperature

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• 2) Increased flooding

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Projected Increase in Urban Runofffor Lake
Mendota(from 2000-2020)
Amounts of Urban Runoff for 2000
Amounts of Urban Runoff for 2020
5,600,000,000Gallons
8,800,000,000Gallons
An Increase of 57
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Flash Floods
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3) Erosion
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Engineered Waterways
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Urban Impacts on Groundwater

• Lack of recharge
• Use a lot of water

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Wetlands and small streams have disappeared
Throughout the state artesian wells are no
longer flowing
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Peoples wells are drying up
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Groundwater Drawdown Regions
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Not Just Quantity.

• Quality too!

Soil Manure Fertilizer
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And with each rain runoff, organic matter,
soil, fertilizer, oil and chemicals get added
to our lakes and streams.
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and insects, the base of the food chain
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Excess plant growth effects our enjoyment of
our waterways.
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Water based tourism brings Wisconsin 12 - 15
billion dollars every year
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Our Goal
Act more like this
Need to make this
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Whats the Answer?
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Low Impact Design
Conventional Drainage
Traditional Drainage
Functional Landscape Design
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Step One Increase Infiltration

• Prevent soil compaction
• Construction practices reduce infiltration by 70
  99.5
• Plant vegetation intercepts rain drops and
  prevents soil crust from forming
• Slow down or hold back water
• Enhance soil structure landscape practices

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Sources of Residential Runoff
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Route Downspouts to Lawns
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Lawns and Infiltration
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Healthy Lawns less Runoff
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Rain Gardens

• Sunken Garden
• 4-6 inches deep with flat bottom
• Normally 1/3 the size of area draining to it

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Value of Using Native Plants
Deeper roots absorbs more water Uses no
fertilizer Uses little or no pesticides Does
not require watering after establishment Can
handle flooding/drought
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Do they work?
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Benefits of Rain Gardens
Helps to protect restore natural hydrology
Allows rain to soak into the ground
Traps pollutants
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Attract Birds and Butterflies
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Midvale neighborhood rain garden
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Thank You!
For more information clean-water.uwex.edu/pubs
Produced by Suzanne Wade, Jennifer Erickson
University of Wisconsin-Extension Kristi Minahan,
Roger Bannerman Department of Natural
Resources Photo Credits Roger Bannerman, Jim
Bertolacini, Margaret Burlingham, Center for
Watershed Protection, DNR and UWEX file photos,
Matt Hanson, Carolyn Johnson, Maplewood MN Public
Works, Bob Queen, Ellen Rulseh, Bill Volkert,
Suzanne Wade, Larry Coffman, Applied Ecological
Services, Genesis Bichanich, Barr Engineering,
David Thompson and Candy Schrank February 2007