Volunteering for Water Quality: Community Rain Gardens in Action – Group License

Description

Even when technical assistance is offered and financial incentives are available, adopting conservation can still pose an obstacle for landowners. Administrative budgets are tight and pursuing grants are more competitive than ever. There are groups and individuals out there wanting to help improve their communities but are unsure how to get involved. A demonstration initiative here in the Dry Run Creek Watershed (Cedar Falls, Iowa) has turned these challenges into opportunities.

Over the last 19 years, the Dry Run Creek Watershed Improvement Project has utilized a variety of local, state, and federal grant funds and initiatives to address two state designated water quality impairments for high levels of bacteria as well as a low quantity and diversity of stream biology. While targeted milestones were being reached, there were still significant needs to connect with more landowners in diverse areas to achieve overall water quality improvement goals. Focusing on small-scale but easily implemented conservation opportunities and working to build up in quantity has opened up new doors within the watershed. Pulling together partners and supportive organizations, a local volunteer rain garden project was piloted in 2016. Since its inception, the program has expanded to train over 325 community members on rain gardens and then dedicated volunteer time towards their construction. The benefits of this initiative have been multifaceted including: significantly increase rain garden adoption rates throughout the watershed, substantially reduce cost to landowners by eliminating labor expenses, stretch limited grant dollars further with in-kind match, provide hands-on learning opportunities for volunteers, create feel-good public relation promotions, and strengthen local partnerships.

In an effort to help other communities address localized stormwater issues, increase citizen engagement, and open new opportunities for homeowners regardless of their socioeconomic status, this presentation will highlight the benefits, challenges, and process related to this replicable program.