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# Homeowner Stormwater Practices

## Homeowner Stormwater Practices

Photo courtesy of Reep Green Solutions

#### Backyard Challenge

Next time it rains, watch where it goes. Rain that falls on a roof, driveway, patio or compacted lawn may be directed intoyour street's storm drains. Before it slips underground, the runoff may pick up fertilizer, pesticides, sediment, motor oil,litter, and pet or yard waste and ultimately deliver these pollutants to a local stream or river.

In addition, larger volumes of stormwater also impact our waterways as more land is developed, causing severestreambank erosion and aggravating local flooding.

The good news is that small, homeowner practices can reduce these impacts. These practices:- reduce impervious surfaces so that the rain soaks into the ground;
- intercept and treat runoff from hard surfaces; and
- create beautiful, natural settings and healthy habitat for native plants and animals.

#### Tips for Managing Rainwater Runoff

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###### Transform Turf to Meadows

Converting lawn to a natural meadow means less mowing and fewer inputs of fertilizer and pesticides. Ittakes a few years for the native wildflowers to mature, but the birds and pollinators will benefit, andyou will save time and money.

###### Create a Mini-Wetland

If you have a naturally occurring wet spot in your yard, or a low swale or drainageway with heavy claysoils,you easily can turn it into a mini-wetland. A wetland will store, filter, and clean runoff waterfrom your roof and lawn. It will provide habitat for many interesting creatures—from butterflies and beesto salamanders, toads, frogs, and birds.

###### Create No-Mow Zone Near Water

If you live next to a stream, you can protect its water quality by simply not mowing up to the water's edge. Consider planting a buffer of native wildflowers, shrubs and trees.

###### Disconnect and Capture the Rain

Disconnecting downspouts from the storm drain system and redirecting them to the lawn, a garden, or arain barrel can reduce the volume of runoff that reaches a stream and keeps pollutants out of our waterways.

###### Improve Soil Health

Overly compacted soil prevents vegetation from establishing deep roots and prevents rainwater fromsoaking in, instead creating runoff to local streams. For new construction, ask your builder not tocompact the soil. If compacted, soil can be improved by using a core aerator or adding compost to the soil.

#### Backyard Impacts

SRBC encourages every homeownerto practice green stormwaterpractices. Green stormwatertechniques such as rain gardens,redirected downspouts, andstreamside buffers help restore thenatural movement of water.

Such techniques work to slow,capture, and absorbrainfall. Thisreduces the volume of runoffentering drainage systems and,ultimately, local streams and rivers.Less runoff means fewer pollutantsentering waterways and greaterrecharge of groundwater supplies.

#### How-to Resources

See these links that tell you how to practice stormwater stewardship around your home.
        -  DOWNSPOUT DISCONNECTION 
        -  LAWNS CONVERSION 
        -  LAWNS TO MEADOWS 
        -  CREATING YOUR RAIN GARDEN 
        -  SOAK UP THE RAIN: RAIN GARDENS 
        -  RIPARIAN BUFFERS 
        -  TREE PLANTING 
        -  PERVIOUS PAVERS