Raingardens
Raingardens are one way to reduce the impact of stormwater pollutants in the Puget Sound by stopping pollutants with onsite filtering. Raingardens can be part of your private property, can replace public paved areas, or enhance already green areas to provide more environmental benefits.
Photo Credit: Pierce Conservation District
Residential Raingardens
Your property can be part of the solution with a beautiful raingarden to help soak up rainwater. Pierce Conservation District helps residents design and install raingardens on their property.
Photo Credit: Pierce Conservation District
Promote Healthy Waters
Raingardens are an important part of a healthy water system by keeping pollutants out of the ground water and the Puget Sound. By installing a raingarden you help keep the Puget Sound, lakes and rivers and the water underground healthy. Raingardens filter out pollutants, take less maintenance and require less or no chemicals for weeds and pests.
Photo Credit: Pierce Conservation District
Support Pollinators
Raingardens planted with native plants and flowers help support pollinators like bees and butterflies with food and habitat. These pollinators in turn support you and your neighbors gardens, fruit trees and community gardens!
Photo Credit: Tacoma Tree Foundation
Grant Opportunities
Reimagining landscaping and streets to create a more healthy and sustainable neighborhood can be cost-prohibitive. There are a variety of organizations offering assistance through grant opportunities for individuals and neighborhoods looking to initiate community greening projects.
Make a Splash Grants
City of Tacoma Environmental Services awards up to $48,000 a year in environmental grants to help educate residents and protect and restore local surface water resources. A reimbursable maximum award amount up to $4,000 is open to anyone considering a project within Tacoma city limits. Grants are designed for projects that have a strong stormwater pollution prevention message or provide a stormwater benefit. Submitted projects must meet at least one of the program goals of: education, surface water protection, or habitat restoration and tree planting.
Sustainability Small Grants
City of Tacoma Environmental Services provides a reimbursable maximum award amount of up to $5,000 to eligible projects within Tacoma city limits that help protect and restore our environment. Projects that help educate residents and/or businesses on the environment and sustainable practices are encouraged to apply. Strong grant applications will demonstrate a benefit to one or more of the three Environmental Services utilities: Surface Water, Solid Waste, and Wastewater.
Puyallup White River Watershed and Chambers-Clover Creek Watershed Small Grants
A partnership with Pierce County and the Stormwater Community of Interest (SCOI), a part of the Puyallup Watershed Initiative, with grant administration provided by the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, and the Puyallup River Watershed Council, this program provides grants up to $2,500 to non-profit organizations, schools, teachers, businesses, and individuals wishing to enhance water quality and habitats in the Puyallup-White River Watershed (WRIA 10).
Raingardens Everywhere
Raingardens can also be useful on commercial or non-residential properties. For more information visit Pierce Conservation District’s Depave Page.