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Rain Catchers
Rain Catchers
The Rain Catchers program emphasizes clean water and lake/stream-friendly neighborhoods through the establishment of rain gardens and use of rain barrels.
When water flows over the land during a rainstorm or snowmelt, it can pick up eroded soil, bacteria, chemicals, and even trash. When these materials are washed downhill or into ditches and storm drains, they can end up in nearby streams and lakes. Heavy rains can also cause other problems, such as property erosion, flash flooding, and overwhelmed drainage systems. Rain gardens are gaining national attention for their ability to capture and absorb rainwater that could otherwise become problematic “runoff.” Rain gardens look similar to regular gardens, but they are actually designed to soak up rainwater from rooftops, driveways, and patios. Rain barrels are another way to capture rainwater and prevent it from washing pollutants into local waterways.
| Rain Gardens | Rain Barrels |
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- Look like regular gardens, but have a pie-pan shape that is specifically designed to capture rainwater.
| - Rain barrels have been used for centuries to collect and recycle rainwater flowing off rooftops.
| - During a storm, rain flowing off a roof, patio, or driveway fills the garden with a few inches of water – where it is quickly soaked up by the plants and soil.
| - The water collected in rain barrels can be released slowly using a soaker hose, or put to use for watering gardens and plants during dry weather.
| - Can be planted with flowers, shrubs or trees that will tolerate having “wet feet” when the garden fills with rain, as well as unsaturated soils during dry weather.
| - Capturing rainwater during a storm, benefits local streams and lakes by reducing the amount of water that runs down storm drains and ditches.
| - Do not promote mosquitoes- because the garden is only filled with standing water for 1-2 days at the most.
| - To maintain the environmental benefits of a rain barrel, it should be empty!
| - Soak up 30% more water than a typical lawn, and thereby reduce the amount of rain running into storm drains, streams, and lakes- and also recharge groundwater levels!
| - There are a variety of rain barrel styles and sizes that can be purchased, or you can build your own barrel out of a food-grade plastic drum or used oak wine barrel. For instructions on how to build your own rain barrel, click here.
| | For more information about rain gardens, including garden designs, plant lists, and ‘Do It Yourself’ instructions, click here. | For more information about rain barrels, including barrel designs and ‘Do It Yourself’ instructions, click here. |
If you have planted a rain garden or installed a rain barrel, we would like to hear from you! To include your garden or barrel in our Rain Catchers tally, please send us the information below:
• Your name and contact information
• The location and size of your rain garden or rain barrel
• The number of gallons your rain garden or rain barrel is designed to capture
• A picture of your rain garden or barrel (optional)
Send an email to: Christine Moskell at csm94@cornell.edu
OR
Print and fill out a Rain Catchers Postcard, and mail to:
CCE of Onondaga County
220 Herald Place, 2nd Floor
Syracuse NY 13202
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