Inspiring beautiful solutions for water quality improvements
Ohio faces multiple water challenges with nutrient pollution, sediment, and stormwater runoff pollution. H2Ohio is a comprehensive, data-driven water quality plan in Ohio to address these concerns. Many partnering agencies are collaborating to improve water quality around the state, including local soil & water conservation districts. Here at Warren County SWCD, we recognize the vital importance of rain gardens in mitigating stormwater pollution, as well as providing ecological benefits like habitat for pollinators. This year we are expanding efforts to see more rain gardens established throughout Warren County, and to celebrate the already established rain gardens. We will be hosting a series of events and opportunities for rain garden development and recognition throughout the year with Operation Rain Garden!
Operation Rain Garden is an initiative started by Warren County SWCD to inspire and assist with the installation of rain gardens in Warren County. In late 2019, Governor DeWine announced his H2Ohio plan. The plan is an initiative aimed at ensuring safe and clean water for all Ohioans. H2Ohio is a comprehensive, data-driven approach to improving water quality over the long term. The initiative is multi-faceted and has already started in the northern part of the state. Here in southwest Ohio, we are ready to join the effort too! Just as Governor DeWine is concerned about water quality, Warren County SWCD is passionate about water quality thus creating Operation Rain Garden. A rain garden is a depression planted with native shrubs, perennials and flowers in a place that can collect rainwater. Ideally, the rainwater flows from roadways, sidewalks, roofs, driveways, patios or lawns to a rain garden. As the rainwater flows across urban landscape, pollutants and sediments join the flow. Rain gardens can then get to work filtering out these unwanted contaminants before they reach our creeks, streams and rivers. Rain gardens are effective in removing up to 90% of nutrients and chemicals and up to 80% of sediments from rainwater runoff. Additionally, rain gardens can soak up to 30% more water into the ground than a traditional lawn often alleviating excessive stormwater that can flood roads or property. Rain gardens have additional benefits beyond water quality and flood control. They are aesthetically pleasing, they preserve native vegetation, they attract beneficial birds, butterflies and insects and are easy to maintain after establishment. For these reasons, rain gardens are excellent features to improve water quality and improve stormwater management and can improve most properties for years to come. Operation Rain Garden is intended to be an ongoing program administered by Warren County SWCD. The program will have components that are collaborative, educational, technical and financial. This program will develop over the years and grow and change to fit the needs of Warren County.
Operation Rain Garden is an initiative started by Warren County SWCD to inspire and assist with the installation of rain gardens in Warren County. In late 2019, Governor DeWine announced his H2Ohio plan. The plan is an initiative aimed at ensuring safe and clean water for all Ohioans. H2Ohio is a comprehensive, data-driven approach to improving water quality over the long term. The initiative is multi-faceted and has already started in the northern part of the state. Here in southwest Ohio, we are ready to join the effort too! Just as Governor DeWine is concerned about water quality, Warren County SWCD is passionate about water quality thus creating Operation Rain Garden. A rain garden is a depression planted with native shrubs, perennials and flowers in a place that can collect rainwater. Ideally, the rainwater flows from roadways, sidewalks, roofs, driveways, patios or lawns to a rain garden. As the rainwater flows across urban landscape, pollutants and sediments join the flow. Rain gardens can then get to work filtering out these unwanted contaminants before they reach our creeks, streams and rivers. Rain gardens are effective in removing up to 90% of nutrients and chemicals and up to 80% of sediments from rainwater runoff. Additionally, rain gardens can soak up to 30% more water into the ground than a traditional lawn often alleviating excessive stormwater that can flood roads or property. Rain gardens have additional benefits beyond water quality and flood control. They are aesthetically pleasing, they preserve native vegetation, they attract beneficial birds, butterflies and insects and are easy to maintain after establishment. For these reasons, rain gardens are excellent features to improve water quality and improve stormwater management and can improve most properties for years to come. Operation Rain Garden is intended to be an ongoing program administered by Warren County SWCD. The program will have components that are collaborative, educational, technical and financial. This program will develop over the years and grow and change to fit the needs of Warren County.
Explore rain gardens with our Education & Communications Specialist
Warren County SWCD is holding a Rain Garden Photo Contest! Whether you have an established rain garden or are installing a new rain garden this summer, we want to see your photos!
Photo Contest Rules:
- Contest dates: June 1-August 31 by 4:30 pm
- Submit a photo of your rain garden. Entry should include: your full name, mailing address, Warren County address of rain garden location (if different from mailing address), year rain garden was installed, and contact email and phone number.
- Entries can be emailed (JPEG or PNG file) to wcswcd@gmail.com OR mailed to 320 East Silver St., Lebanon, OH 45036
- For all pictures, copyright holders grant the Warren County SWCD non-exclusive use of pictures in educational and research activities without any remuneration being due.
- All entries will be featured in a Warren County Rain Garden Virtual Tour this September (no addresses will be published)
- 5 winners will be randomly drawn from all entries to receive a $25 gift certificate for native plants to expand your rain garden!
Watch our Rain Garden Program to learn about rain garden function and design!
Rain Garden Grant Program
The Rain Garden Grant Program will incentivize the installation of rain gardens on public lands in Warren County. These rain gardens would not only work to improve the water quality of Warren County but would serve as public engagement hot spots for water quality education into the future! Funding for the grants would come from the Warren County SWCD Special Fund, drawing upon the allocation from the Warren County Engineer’s office. The allocation from the engineers is designated for Storm Water program work and more specifically MS4 related work. The MS4 permit and related work specifically targets the protection and improvement of water quality in the permitted areas of Warren County.
Applications are due by close of business on September 30, 2020.
Applications are due by close of business on September 30, 2020.
