Rain Garden web sites

Rain Garden Basics How to Build a Rain Garden Rain Garden Plant Resources	Rain Garden Examples & Case Studies Links to More Links Rain Barrels Stormwater Management
This list of resources should not be construed as being complete. This list is in no way an endorsement of these organizations, but rather a resource for the public. Most of the links exit the DNR web site and all open in a new browser window.

Prairie Smoke, Wisconsin native plant
Prairie smoke, a plant native to Wisconsin

Dane County's My Fair Lakes Rain Garden Basics [exit DNR]
Rain Garden Basics from West Michigan [exit DNR]
The City of Maplewood, MN Rainwater Garden Website (includes photos and a care guide) [exit DNR]

Edgewood College's (Madison, WI) rain garden guide including a 10 step process to build your own rain garden. [exit DNR]
Chicago's Rain Garden Network web site includes steps to build and maintain a rain gardens. [exit DNR]

"Rain Gardens: A Household Way To Improve Water Quality in Your Community"
by University of Wisconsin Publication #GWQ037 [PDF 696KB]
"Rain Gardens: A How -To Manual for Homeowners"
by University of Wisconsin Publication #GWQ034 [PDF 3.2MB]
"Landscape Ecology & Landscape Architecture"
by Barr Engineering [PDF 1.2MB]

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' Native Plants for Rain Gardens Database.
"Wisconsin Native Plant Sources and Restoration Consultants."
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Publication #wt-802 [PDF 2.4MB]
Friends of Bassett Creek's (Minneapolis, MN) rain garden guide includes a plant/shrub list for both sunny and shady areas. [exit DNR]

"Maryland developer grows rain gardens to control residential runoff." US EPA Urban Runoff Notes. [exit DNR]
Examples and photos of transportation related rain gardens from the Low Impact Development Center. [exit DNR]
Seattle's Stormwater Utility's downloadable before and after rain garden photos. [exit DNR]
Puget Sound Action Team's natural approach to stormwater management. [exit DNR]

Rain garden resources and links from Dane County, Wisconsin. [exit DNR]
Earth & Water Works, LLC is a commercial rain garden designer and installer. [exit DNR]

Rain Barrels

Rain barrels are a way of storing rain water runoff for later distribution to rain gardens, lawns and for other uses around the yard.

Rain Barrel Basics
- "Water Saving in the Garden: some basic facts about cisterns and rainbarrels."
  King County, Washington Department of Natural Resources and Parks. [PDF 898 KB]
- "What is a Rain Barrel."
  U.S. EPA. This publication includes rain barrel purchasing information. [PDF 45KB]
- HarverstH20.com: the online rainwater harvesting community. [exit DNR]
How To Create and Install a Rain Barrel
- HGTV's step by step guide to build your own rain barrel [exit DNR]
Rain Barrel Examples
- City of Vancouver Rain Barrel Program [exit DNR]
- Low Impact Development Center's step by step sustainable school projects [exit DNR]
- Sustain Dane Rain Barrel Program [exit DNR]
- Rain Barrel Sources in Southern Wisconsin [PDF 22KB]

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' Storm Water Management website.
Center for Watershed Protection's Stormwater Manager's Resource Center [exit DNR]
Milwaukee River Basin Partnership's Guide to Stormwater Management [exit DNR]
"The Changing Face of Stormwater Management: What you need to know to improve stormwater management in your community."
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. [PDF 227KB]

Contact Information: For more information about this page, please contact: Terry Lohr 608-267-2375

Last Revised: Friday January 15 2010