Where I can I get information about building a Raingarden?
Raingardens are an easy and attractive way to reduce the impact of development on local streams, rivers and Puget Sound. Roof gutters, pavement and hard surfaces all concentrate the flow of rain water and dump it into the local water systems. Often this rush of rain water carries pollutants and chemicals into the waterways, and that is a large part of what has affected Puget Sound salmon runs. A Raingarden can reduce the flash effect of development, and actually clean rain water as it moves through the Raingarden and into the waterways. • This Seattle PI article talks about the advantages of Raingardens and includes some links at the end. • The Puget Sound Raingarden section from WSU Extension Program has a goal of 12,000 Raingardens in Puget Sound. There are listings of registered gardens for each County. They have information about planning and building Raingardens, as well an excellent Rain Garden Handbook for Western Washington Homeowners [6.5 MB PDF file]. This handbook will tell
