Green Solutions to Polluted Runoff

“Our first house project transformed our bland, green lawn into a mosaic of diverse flowers, plants, vegetables, herbs, and happy honey bees. As our rain garden matured and took root it became a conversation piece to by-passers and an inspiration for several neighbors to build similar gardens. In addition to the aesthetic benefits of our rain garden, it helps prevent uncontrolled polluted runoff or “stormwater going into Pippers Creek, a nearby salmon bearing stream within an urban oasis. Rain gardens capture runoff and promote infiltration on our property and are one of many green infrastructure or “low impact development” techniques that are easy to implement and cost effective. “

-- Rein from Greenwood neighborhood in Seattle

Do you have a similar rain garden story you would like to share?

Your “Rain garden testimonial” will prove that home owners are already implementing simple green building techniques to clean up polluted runoff. Your story will be submitted to the Department of Ecology (Ecology) to show public support to clean up polluted runoff.

Ecology is currently developing stormwater permits and green building standards to address polluted runoff that will determine:

• How, when, and where developers should use green infrastructure techniques on individual building sites; and
• How local governments will balance development and growth with clean water benefits of preserving native forests and reducing hardened surfaces.

Be a rain garden hero

Follow these steps to fill out the"I am a Rain Garden Hero" form:

1. Take a picture of your finished rain garden with a digital camera or your phone.
2. Measure the approximate square footage (optional).
3. Fill in the I am a Rain Garden Hero form that will be stored.
4. Photo instructions:
1. Name your photo as “firstname_lastname”
2. Email your photo to rattemann@pugetsound.org. Subject line should be “First name and last name is a rain garden hero”
3. In the body of the email please state that you give People For Puget Sound permission to use the photo, and include your name. (This must match the contact Person Name entered above.)

An Opportunity To Move Forward

Better urban planning can also make a difference. Some communities have begun to plan for growth in a new way, by taking into account the water quality impacts of pavement. Seattle’s “SEA Street”, shows that, when properly constructed, these projects generate almost zero runoff into Pipers Creek and Puget Sound. Increased use of “low impact development” on this site has resulted in a 98 percent reduction in polluted runoff over the past three years. In addition to clean water, these sites offer the added benefits of creating beautifully landscaped neighborhoods, reducing flooding and helping salmon. This permit is important because it will encourage more widespread adoption of green infrastructure like rain gardens in new housing developments, commercial areas, schools and along streets.

Any questions? Email Rein Attemann