If you live in Portland’s west hills, you’re probably wary of disconnecting downspouts and building a rain garden due to your steep slopes and poorly draining soils. However there are many things you can do reduce runoff, erosion and non-point source pollution!
Consider the following ideas:
• Plant a tree (or two or three!)
• Restore your soils – amend damage and degraded soils and replant
• Depave – remove unnecessary impervious surfaces and restore the landscaping
• Install planters – place potted planters over underused hardscapes
• Porous walkways – create pathways that can manage some site stormwater
We have informational fact sheets below to show you how to implement these practices and further explain why we recommend them on these challenging stormwater sites.
The Conservation District is sponsoring the Stormwater Stars program, which is delivered by our partner, SW Watershed Resource Center. This program leads you though a “design-build” training focused on the above stormwater practices, so anyone can be a “Stormwater Star”!
Contact Urban Conservationist Mary Logalbo for more information; mary@wmswcd.org or 503.238.4775, ext. 103.