Did you know that we have mini-grants available for Fayette County residents up to $500 for planting a rain garden or riparian buffer at your home?

WHO CAN APPLY?

Homeowners in Fayette County with a backyard stream will be encouraged to participate in the riparian buffer program, while those that are interested in water quality but do not live on a stream, will be encouraged to participate in the rain garden program.

WHAT IS A RIPARIAN BUFFER?

Riparian buffers, vegetated zones between streams and upland areas, are essential for reducing stream bank erosion, trapping sediment, filtering pollutants from stormwater runoff, creating wildlife habitat, and providing canopy for shading of streams. Underdeveloped or absent riparian buffer zones can negatively impact water quality and escalate local flooding issues.

WHAT IS A RAIN GARDEN?

A rain garden is a depressed area in the landscape that collects rain water from a roof, driveway or street and allows it to soak into the ground. Planted with grasses and flowering perennials, rain gardens can be a cost effective and beautiful way to reduce runoff from your property.

For more information, please reach out to our watershed coordinator, Chris Howard, at ChrisH@bggreensource.org

Top image: example of a riparian buffer next to a stream
Bottom image: example of a rain garden featuring a variety of native plants