Friends of Yellow Creek Encourage Rain Gardens
Does the rain come off your roof or driveway in sheets? Are you too busy to constantly weed and water a flower garden? Does a well provide you with drinking water?
The Friends of Yellow Creek (FOYC), a local watershed group serving nine communities in two counties, encourages everyone to take the first step in helping Mother Nature to control runoff problems, contribute to the recharge of groundwater supply, and filter the pollutants created by road grime and excess lawn chemicals by installing a rain garden.
A rain garden is a natural “green” way to insure the quality of our water. It captures and filters the contaminants from surface water runoff and snowmelts. “Studies by the EPA have shown that a substantial amount of the pollution in our streams and lakes is carried there by runoff,” said FOYC chairman Maryanne Rackoff.
In an effort to raise awareness of this source of pollution, FOYC sponsored a Rain Garden Contest this past summer. Amy Jean Nichols of Bath Township was the winner. Local business owners contributed generously to the contest by supplying materials, labor and expertise to the project. Nichols will enjoy the fruits of this community effort in spring when the native flowers bloom in colorful succession.
Nancy Cushing, FOYC coordinator of the contest, said, “Installing a rain garden will not only benefit and enhance your own property, but also the neighborhoods and creeks in your watershed.”
Although considerable professional talent went into this project, anyone can design and develop a rain garden by consulting
Rain Garden Manual for Homeowners, available on the Internet. Residents can also visit Bath Community Activity Center at 1615 N. Cleveland-Massillon Rd. to see the two rain gardens Bath Township installed to assist with the runoff from the busy highway and the parking lot.Information about rain gardens and other environment-friendly ideas are available at yellowcreekwatershed.org.
From the December 2008 issue of the Bath Country Journal. Reprinted with permission of the Bath Country Journal.
Installing a rain garden are (l-r) Norma Setteur, Sabet A. Sabet, contest winner Amy Jean Nichols and FOYC coordinator Nancy Cushing.