Prevent Flooding with Rain Gardens

How Rain Gardens Help Mitigate Flooding

Simply stated; a Rain Garden is a shallow depression planted with native plants, called a rain garden, captures and infiltrates rain before it becomes polluted stormwater runoff. They work the way nature does, capturing stormwater runoff so it can soak into the ground. Rocks and sandy soil is key to helping proper drainage in a rain garden.

When rain falls on surfaces such as rooftops and parking lots it is not absorbed into the ground. Instead, it flows over these hard surfaces collecting pollutants along the way. This polluted stormwater runs into fragile coastal waters such as Wilson Bay and the New River. Rain gardens reduce polluted runoff.

The FAQs

Does a rain garden form a pond?
No. Rain soaks into the ground so the rain garden is dry between rain events.

Do they attract mosquitoes?
No. Mosquitoes need 7 to 12 days to lay and hatch eggs, rain gardens generally dry in 1 to 3 days.

Why is stormwater runoff pollution a problem?
Unlike water in City sewer lines, rain flowing through storm drains is not treated for pollutants before it reaches bodies of water. Runoff pollution harm water supplies, fish, wildlife & plants and cause flooding.

Is a rain garden expensive?
Typically no. Back yard rain gardens should not be expensive with the main cost being plants.