TEN $100 RAIN GARDEN GRANTS AVAILABLE TO GRESHAM HOMEOWNERS
Posted: March 11th, 2010 12:31 PM
Photo/sound file: http://www.flashalertnewswire.net/images/news/2010-03/1046/Gresham_Rain_Garden.JPG (Jody Depew installing her rain garden)
Gresham, Ore – Planning to landscape this spring? By installing a rain garden into the landscape to manage stormwater, 10 Gresham homeowners could be eligible for up to $100 from the City and East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District (EMSWCD).
Homeowners are catching on to rain gardens, a shallow depression in a yard that collects rainwater from urban areas like roofs, driveways, walkways and compacted lawns - and sports a variety of flowers, shrubs and grasses.
"We're making a difference one home at a time," said Jamie Stamberger, watershed outreach coordinator for the City. "If 10 homes capture water from 1,500 square feet of their roofs, that's equal to 420,000 gallons of water being taken off our creeks each year, which means less pollution, scouring, erosion and flooding."
Based on a soil mapping and topography analysis, staff estimates there may be up to 5,000 Gresham homes that could safely build a rain garden.
"Eventually we could take another 212 million gallons of erosive water off our local streams to recharge groundwater, which is what would happen under natural conditions," Stamberger said.
Gresham homeowner Jody Depew installed a rain garden last year with help from City staff using grant funds the City received from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and EMSWCD.
"It is fun and a nice garden feature," Depew said. "I had the opportunity to disconnect my downspout and I was very interested because I'm trying to be greener and I want to make the conscious effort to use less pesticide," she said.
The rain garden grants are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis to applicants who meet the criteria, including a pre-visit by City staff. The application and rain garden information is online at GreshamOregon.gov/watershed or call Stamberger for more information, 503-618-2793.
Free rain garden workshop will be held on March 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.. Attendees can learn how to build a rain garden on their property "Rain Gardens 101" at Gresham City Hall in Council Chambers, 1333 N.W. Eastman Parkway. The workshop will be conducted by the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District. Advance registration is required and space is limited. Register online at www.emswcd.org or call 503-935-5383.
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