In Burien, we know to be ready for rain. More and more residents are
making sure their gardens are too. While rain can be life-giving, too
much of it can cause pools of water to form in our yards or even lead to
flooding and erosion. Excess rain flows off our property and into storm
drains, picking up pollutants from the road along the way. This
polluted stormwater enters Miller, Walker, and Salmon Creeks directly,
without being cleaned, and is dangerous to wildlife there. Learn how to
prepare for heavy rains and make your garden environmentally friendly!
Rainwater harvesting
Collect water in barrels or cisterns to use in the garden during the summer months. Read how to make a rain barrel and watch the video below for more information on installing your very own cistern!
Install a rain garden
Made
up of absorbent soil and rain-loving plants, rain gardens act like a
sponge for runoff. During rainstorms, stormwater is captured in the rain
garden and slowly filters into the ground. This process both cleans and
releases the water back into our creeks as it would in a natural
(non-paved) environment. We highly recommend this easy-to-use guide
to build your own rain garden.
Permeable pavers
Where
you can, break up paved surfaces (like driveways, patios) with
permeable pavers. While there are a few options, all of them help
rainwater soak into the ground instead of pooling up or running off and
still provide a solid ground surface.
