Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
The Department's rain garden page offers a downloadable how-to manual, Wisconsin native plants lists, photos, and suggestions for ways to get kids involved.
Rain Gardens Program
West Michigan Environmental Action Council
The Council is a nonprofit organization. Their web site offers instructions on how to install a rain garden and more information on the value of rain gardens and using bioretention techniques to manage stormwater.
Rain Garden Network
Private organization based in Illinois offering information and services related to installing and maintaining rain gardens. Web site includes photos of rain gardens, glossary, how-to installation instructions, a list of other stormwater management techniques, and more.
CASE STUDIES AND MONITORING DATA
De la Fleur Demonstration Site in Elmhurst, IL
Marcus de la Fleur of the Conservation Design Forum has transformed his Elmhurst, IL home into a virtual watershed friendly landscaping demonstration site. Visit the rain garden section of his web site for more information about the rain gardens he installed on his property including installation strategy, plants list, and photos. Don't miss the time lapse animation of his rain garden during the growing season.
City of Portland, OR
Scroll down the page to the "Commercial/Institutional Property" heading. There are several downloadable case studies of rain garden installations with photos, schematics, and detailed information on design, installation, costs, maintenance, and post-installation monitoring results.
Build your own Rain Garden
Applied Ecological Services
A simple 4-page guide to rain garden design with color photos of popular rain garden plants.
Rain Garden Design and Installation.
Applied Ecological Services
A more advanced technical manual. Includes many color photos of design and plant ideas may be of interest to novices and professionals alike.
Rain Gardens: A how-to manual for homeowners.
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
A 30-page manual offering detailed guidelines, sample designs, and plant lists.
A Guide to Stormwater Best Management Practices
City of Chicago
This 32-page publication offers detailed descriptions of watershed friendly landscaping practices and includes photos, schematics, and information about maintenance, costs, and the applicability of each practice. Scroll down the page for the link to download this free publication.
Conservation Development in Practice
This 16-page publication produced by Chicago Wilderness, The Nature Conservancy, and The Conservation Design Forum provides brief overviews of most watershed friendly landscaping practices and includes photos, schematics, and benefit and cost summaries.
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