Rain garden resources

A compilation of some of the better resources available on line for rain garden design. If you find other good resources, please contact me or leave a comment.

• A good place to get started: http://www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/raingarden_design/index.htm
• “the bible” of bioretention http://www.princegeorgescountymd.gov/Government/AgencyIndex/DER/ESG/Bioretention/pdf/Bioretention%20Manual_2009%20Version.pdf
• A stormwater runoff calculator useful for sizing your rain garden, based on the NRCS TR-55 method. 
• Information on sump pumps and rain gardens: http://www.greensongardiner.com/Download/Sump%20Pump%20Discharge.pdf
• The Central Ohio Rain Gardens Initiative: This webpage has a good rain garden planning guide and links to other good resources about rain gardens. Plus, when we’re finished we can upload a photo of our rain garden! (submitted by KB)
• Rain Garden Design and Construction: A Northern Virginia Homeowner’s Guide (submitted by DK)
• Rainscaping Iowa: The link has a nice step by step manual to installing rain gardens. Also the main page has a lot of other information on its resources tab (submitted by MH).
• Virginia Department of Forestry Rain Garden Tech Guide (submitted by MC)
• http://www.brecksville.oh.us/depts/engineering_pdfs/2nd_Ed_Storm_Water_Manual_10_20_09.pdfHere’s one from Brecksville, so a local manual for rain gardens and other storm water management.  Rain Gardens start in Chapter C, on page 24, but the other chapters are also informative.  I have also included the PDF. (submitted by JB)
• http://www.crystallakeconservancy.org/uploads/2/8/6/4/2864556/mwc_rain_garden_guide.pdf (submitted by DB)
• http://raingardenalliance.org/ (submitted by DB)
• http://www.uri.edu/ce/healthylandscapes/raingarden.htm (submitted by NR and CW)
• http://learningstore.uwex.edu/assets/pdfs/GWQ037.pdf (submitted by LZ)
• http://www.bluetumb.org/raingardens (submitted by AR)
• http://www.faribaultcountyswcd.com/FileLib/Rain%20Garden%20Design%20Templates.pdf (submitted by AR)
• http://www.southrussell.com/pdfs/raingarden_manual1.pdf (submitted by AB)
• Good step-by-step guide: https://www.raingardens.org/index.php/ (submitted by NB)
• http://www.cleanwatercampaign.com/html/636.htm (submitted by ES)
• http://www.cityofmadison.com/engineering/stormwater/raingardens/: This site is nice because Wisconsin and Ohio have very similar natural vegetation and precipitation. It has plantings listed by size and needs, and the link under “building a rain garden” has general guidelines for area required and some basic soil needs. (submitted by BK)
• http://www.msdlouky.org/aboutmsd/pdfs/RainGardenRev.pdf (submitted by BC)
• http://nemo.uconn.edu/raingardens/sizing.htm (submitted by DV)
• Not a rain garden, but way better than a rain barrel: http://www.rainwaterpillow.com/ (submitted by MH)
• http://www.ci.lexington.va.us/pdfs/rain%20garden.pdf (submitted by KE)
• http://www.ohioprairienursery.com/shoppingcart/pages/Rain-Gardens.html (submitted by AH)
• http://www.bae.ncsu.edu/stormwater/PublicationFiles/DesigningRainGardens2001.pdf (submitted by NP)
• http://www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/raingarden_design/downloads/CreateRainGardenWesternMI.pdf This has step by step instructions that help you make ypur raingarden your own! Its has helpful tips of creative things you can do as well! (submitted by ST)
• I found this site and specifically like the infiltration excel spread that they have created.
  http://www.lid-stormwater.net/bio_sizing.htm (submitted by DR)
• Grant Funded Rain Gardens, by Cuyahoga SWCD “Great resource, especially for NE Ohio.” (submitted by EG)

In my mind, an adequate resource should help you figure out how to do the following things:

1. Determine the needed size, depth, and location.
2. Understand your soils and figure out how to build a soil for infiltration
3. Provide recommendations for planting the garden (e.g., species lists, things to consider) that are appropriate for your climate, soil, and shade conditions.

Urban Hydrology students: Please search the web for one good rain garden design resource to be added to the list above. When you have found one, leave a comment or email me with the link. I’ll update the list as we go along.