Rain Gardens

Rain gardens are landscape features designed to capture and retain stormwater runoff. When a storm begins, the first flush of rain water tends to pick up pollutants such as soil particles and heavy metals and wash them into streams, lakes and drains. By holding stormwater and allowing it to infiltrate slowly, a rain garden prevents storm runoff from polluting surface waters and overwhelming storm drains. A variety of attractive native water-tolerant plants are often planted in rain gardens, and this vegetation helps slow the flow of water, remove excess nutrients and consume some of the pooled water by returning it to the atmosphere through transpiration. In short, a rain garden is an effective, low-tech tool homeowners can use to improve water quality and decrease soil erosion.

There are many resources available to guide homeowners through the rain garden planning and design process. To function properly, a rain garden must be sited strategically on the land slope and be large and deep enough to capture the first flush of runoff generated by a storm event. Before building a rain garden, the designer will need to perform a few simple calculations to determine optimal size and site characteristics. Local garden supply stores and nurseries are also a great resource - just ask if someone on staff can help you to select species that will thrive in a Pacific Northwest rain garden.

Check Out These Valuable Regional Stormwater Resources

Building a Rain Garden in the Pacific Northwest VIDEO

Plant It Right: Restore Our Streams VIDEO

Plant It Right: Restore Our Streams DVD available for purchase through WSU Extension

Low Impact Development (LID) Stormwater Center - WSU Puyallap Extension Center - Go To Site

Mason County Government and Information Services - Stormwater Management- Go To Site

Rain Garden Handbook for Western Washington Homeowners (PDF)

Washington Stormwater Center - Go To Site

View the Rain Garden Profiles to learn more about rain gardens already built in Mason County and the Puget Sound area. You can also register your own rain garden and document your commitment to improving water quality!

And, we invite you to visit the WSU Mason County Extension Office to see the rain garden we installed to manage runoff produced by impermeable surfaces around our building. We are located at 303 North 4th Street in Shelton.

Rain Garden Ambassadors Program
Last year WSU Mason County Extension launched a volunteer training program aimed at reducing and treating polluted stormwater runoff in Mason County.  The program took place October 13 and 20, 2011 at the Port of Allyn Building. Please check back at this site for upcoming (2012) training dates.