Update! Click here to go to our new Rain Garden webpage!

In Washtenaw County we’re blessed with wonderful natural resources – and with people who can help us conserve and protect those resources. The Washtenaw County Office of the Drain Commissioner is building on a recent grant funded project to help homeowners create a “rain garden” on their property.

In these dog days of summer, many gardeners spend hours and dollars hoping to help precious plants survive. With thoughtful selection of plants, and design, a beautiful garden can make use of rainwater to more than survive – to thrive.

One inch of rainfall provides approximately 600 gallons of water for a 1,000 square foot drainage area, and a good selection of native plants can survive in both wet and drought conditions. Put these facts together and you have a low maintenance, drought tolerant and environmentally friendly garden that beautifies your property and your neighborhood.

And the Office of the Drain Commissioner Janis Bobrin and her staff are ready to make the sensible choice of a rain garden easy for you to make. They are prepared to help you pay for the design of a rain garden on your property,

Nineteen homeowners in the Allen Creek Watershed took advantage of a similar offer in 2005 and 2006. Through a grant-funded program, the Drain Commissioner’s office Project Manager Harry Sheehan helped homeowners plan, design and install a number of rain gardens. The result has been a win-win for all concerned: homeowners happy with their new gardens, and Allen Creek running with fewer fertilizer chemicals and other harmful runoff. This independent collection of rain gardens is capable of capturing 25,000 gallons of water from 1 inch of rainfall.

Fran Alexander, an avid gardener who has worked with the County on several projects, is also an Allen Creekshed resident on the west side of Ann Arbor. Recently Fran planted a rain garden in her backyard. “The people from the Drain Commissioner’s office were great. We wound up selecting a few different ferns and other plants. For me, it was an easy choice. I had an opportunity to experiment with a new way of gardening, and it’s a great way to help the environment,” she said.

The offer still stands. If you’re interested in getting help with the design and implementation of a rain garden, or would like to learn more about this effort, contact Harry Sheehan at the Drain Commissioner’s office.