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Grants available to help residents install raingardens

Raingarden in Shoreview.
This Shoreview raingarden filters about 181,472 gallons annually. In a one-inch rainfall, it will absorb approximately 10,555 gallons from solid surfaces areas and a half of a pound of “total phosphorus.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a yard that not only looked lovely but also supported pollinators and helped keep water clean and plentiful? Raingardens provide all these benefits and more.

Urban landscapes full of solid surfaces such as streets, parking lots and even compacted lawns prevent rain from soaking into the ground as it naturally should. Instead, stormwater flows across these solid surfaces picking up and carrying pollutants into storm drains that lead to underground pipes. The polluted water is then emptied into nearby wetlands, lakes and streams. Raingardens allow water to soak into the ground and serve as a giant filter to prevent water pollution.

Raingardens also allow water to soak into the ground and join the existing groundwater. Groundwater is used for drinking water, heating and cooling, manufacturing processes, and helps maintain water levels in lakes, rivers and wetlands.

Raingardens are often planted with hardy, native plants that can handle extreme Minnesota weather and provide pollinator habitat and nutrition. Properly constructed raingardens drain water within a couple of days, so the garden will not become a mosquito breeding ground.

Are you interested in installing a raingarden in your yard? Apply for a grant to help pay for it. Various watershed management organization offer cost-sharing grant opportunities based on where you live, and Ramsey County assists with the cost-share grant programs for many of the watersheds in the county. Follow these steps.

Step 1

Figure out which watershed you’re in by visiting Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District.

PLEASE NOTE: There are portions of the county that are not in any watershed organization’s jurisdiction. If this is your situation, contact county staff at 651-266-0300 to learn which options are available to you.

Step 2

View the opportunities available to you by visiting your watershed’s website and follow the guidance provided. 

If you have questions, contact Ramsey County Soil & Water Conservation at 651-266-0300.

Posted on Thursday, April 1, 2021 - 6:17 p.m.