News

July 30, 2010

Learn how a rain garden can add beauty and protect water quality

Contact: 
Amy Bryant
Municipal Utilities
515.963.3520
Abryant@AnkenyIowa.gov

 
ANKENY, Iowa (July 28, 2010) - The City of Ankeny and Polk Soil and Water Conservation District are offering a rain garden design training course for homeowners. Rain gardens are perennial gardens strategically located to capture runoff from impervious surfaces. The course will be held on Tuesday, August 24th at Kirkendall Public Library from 6 to 8 pm. The training is free, but reservations are required.

“Rain gardens add beauty to your landscape and help protect water quality,” said Amy Bryant, civil/environmental engineer for the city’s municipal utilities department. “Rain gardens increase aesthetic value, absorb water, reduce runoff, protect water quality, and prevent flooding.”

This front yard rain garden is managing rainfall that flows from the home’s roof. Graphic courtesy of Polk Soil & Water Conservation District.

Urban conservationists Jennifer Welch and Zach DeYoung will talk about rain gardens and other landscaping practices, such as soil quality improvement and native landscaping. This course will provide information and details to help you design and construct a rain garden on your property. Design assistance will be available during the course.

Residents that live in Ankeny or in the Fourmile Creek Watershed may be eligible for cost share assistance through the City of Ankeny or Polk County Soil and Water Conservation District to install stormwater features in their yards.

For more information or to pre-register for the event, please contact Amy Bryant at 515.963.3520 or email ABryant@AnkenyIowa.gov.

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