Everett Wants to Pay for your Landscaping - Everett Rain Gardens
Editor’s note: This article was originally published March 29, 2017. Edited February 2019.
No scams, no jokes. If you've got a plot of yard that needs some sprucing, but don't know what to put there, you might want to consider making a rain garden. Compliments of the City of Everett.
What's a rain garden you ask? Here's a definition straight from the Rain Garden Handbook for Western Washington, "A rain garden is a landscaped area that collects, absorbs, and filters stormwater runoff from roof tops, driveways, patios, and other hard surfaces that don't allow water to soak in."
Anatomy of a Rain Garden. Image courtesy of the City of Everett.
See, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but it kind of rains here. A lot. And when that rain comes pouring off your roof, driveway, etc. it gathers all kinds of gross stuff (oil, pesticides, etc.) then goes straight into the storm drain, which then travels all the way to our precious Puget Sound, untreated. Ew.
However, rain gardens are a visually pleasing solution to this pollution. By connecting your gutter system to your rain garden, the water is temporarily gathered like a pond, then treated naturally by the plant life and soil. When the excess water is gone, you're left with a slightly dipped garden-scape. Cool huh?
The "before" lawn of one of the Pilot rain gardens from 2011. Image courtesy of the City of Everett.
Here's the best part (besides being good for the environment and all): the city of Everett wants to pay for a rain garden on your property. It's all part of the Let it Rain Program, which helps residents be smart with their excess water. They are offering a $2,500 rebate for those willing to make Everett, the Puget Sound, and the PNW a better place.
Important: Whether you spend more or less than the allotted $2,500 is up to you. Want a $5,000 rain garden that's out of this world? Be prepared to spend $2,500 out of pocket. Starting small and only spend $1,500? You will only receive a $1,500 rebate from the city (no, you don't get the extra $1,000 to spend at Funko).
The Let it Rain Program is just one part of Everett's stormwater initiatives. I asked Apryl Hynes if she could give us the scoop on how the rain garden initiative started in Everett.
"Everett Public Works worked with the Snohomish Conservation District, Snohomish County WSU Extension, and Stewardship Partners to build seven rain gardens in north Everett as a pilot program in 2011. The North Everett Pilot Rain Garden program was meant to help alleviate some of the basement flooding that homes in the area were experiencing, especially after the June 9, 2010 rain event, when Everett’s combined sewer system became overwhelmed by a heavy rain event. A combined sewer system carries all stormwater and sanitary sewage to the Everett Water Pollution Control Facility (EWPCF) to be treated."
"The pilot program was such a success for these select homeowners that the program was expanded in 2014 to all of north Everett homeowners and became a rebate program for homeowners to take part in. The rain garden rebate program went city-wide in 2016."
"The Rain Garden Rebate program is only one part of a larger 'Let it Rain' program for Everett Public Works. The hope is - between rain gardens, localized sewer separation projects, expansion of WPCF, rain water collection programs, and other green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) practices – that homeowners will be better equipped to manage rain water originating on their individual properties."
Not sold yet? Here are some of the benefits to having a rain garden in your yard.
Can reduce flooding in your basement.
Enhances the landscape of your yard, ultimately increasing its value.
You'll have less lawn to mow.
The "after" lawn of one of the pilot rain gardens from 2011. Image courtesy of the City of Everett.
So you're sold. You want a rain garden. No, you need a rain garden in your life. Here's what you need to do to get started.
1. Get more info from the city, aka Apryl Hynes.
Attend one of these three March workshops to get all the details:
Saturday, March 16, 2019 10:00 a.m.
Everett Public Works
3200 Cedar StTuesday, March 19, 2019 7:00 p.m.
Eisenhower Middle School
10200 25th Ave SETuesday, March 26, 2019 6:30 p.m.
Everett Public Library
2702 Hoyt Ave
Can't make it to one of those dates? You can also get all the resources from Apryl by contacting her at ahynes@everettwa.gov.
2. Get a site assessment and soil infiltration test. ASAP.
Before you dive in, you'd better find out if your yard can handle the awesomeness that is a rain garden. Schedule a site assessment with the city (free of charge) and they'll have their pro come out and assess. It involves a small bit of digging, so make sure to call 811 beforehand to make sure they won't hit any utilities.
Inserting a rain garden in your yard is a year long commitment, from getting that site assessment, designing the rain garden, digging and planting, and maintaining the garden during the fall and winter season. You also need to sign an agreement with the city agreeing to maintain your water garden for ten years. If you move before that agreement expires, the paperwork and liability are transferred to the next homeowner(s).
Rain garden rebate recipient (2015) and Monte Cristo Green Gardening Award Winner.
The Monte Cristo Green Gardening Award is a new category added to the Monte Cristo Awards that honors homeowners who are managing stormwater runoff on their property and practicing other natural yard care principals to improve the quality of stormwater runoff. Image courtesy of the City of Everett.
Here's the catch: only a limited number of homes can participate in the program each year. So if you're really serious about getting a rain garden in your yard, time is of the essence.
Happy gardening!
Many thanks to the city of Everett and Apryl Hynes for providing the images and crucial details. And for working hard at work worth doing.
Anna is an Everett based graphic designer who specializes in print and digital design.
