Water Management

We have seen some fairly severe weather in that past few years in central Indiana. We have had both extreme flooding and prolonged weeks and months of draught. While we cannot control the weather, we can make small changes on our own properties that, when added to those small steps taken by our neighbors, can make significant improvements for water management.

Read more below to take steps for water management.

Rain Gardens

Rain Gardens are becoming a popular conservation practice in urban areas because they are a small step that landowners can make to help decrease runoff and flooding in their community. Rain gardens are created to be depressional garden areas where surface runoff can collect and percolate down through the soil. Percolation is improved through soil amendments and the use of deep rooted native plants.

The Marion County SWCD has developed a new rain garden guide which you can download HERE.

(Our Rain Garden Guide was sponsored by Heartland Backyard Conservation Program and Clean Water Indiana)

Purdue Extension Service has produced a couple of DIY instructional YouTube videos on how to design and build your own rain garden.

Part 1: Sizing and designing a rain garden

Part 2: Installation

Information found in the Marion County Soil Survey can be very valuable in determining if your soil type is suitable for a rain garden.

More information on rain gardens:

The Normandy Barn Rain Garden was originally built by the district and our partners in 2009 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds. This approximately 200 square foot rain garden drains a 2,600 square foot area including the east roof of the greenhouse building immediately adjacent to it.

The native plant community originally planted in the garden was well established but over the years became overrun with Bindweed and Johnson Grass as well as Siberian Elm and White Mulberry trees. In July 2018, the district collaborated with local healthcare provider CareSource on a volunteer weeding and mulching project to remove invasives at the garden. After this initial cleanup, District staff removed additional invasives and replanted the border and bottom of the rain garden with Prairie Dropseed, Joe Pye Weed, and Ironweed in May 2019. In July 2019 a landscape paver border was installed to protect the new plantings from foot traffic. Finally, last year a new sign was added along with additional plant material including Blazing Star and various sedges.

District staff continue to weed the garden and hope you’ll visit it at the Indiana State Fair every August!

Rain Barrels

What is a rain barrel?

A rain barrel is a system that collects and stores rainwater from your roof that would otherwise run off and be diverted to storm drains, streams, and the White River. It is composed of a large drum (usually about 50 – 60 gallons) a vinyl hose, PVC couplings, a screen grate to keep debris and insects out, and other common items. A rain barrel is relatively simple and inexpensive to construct and can sit conveniently under a residential gutter downspout.

Rain barrels have become very popular again because they lower water bills for those who water their gardens in the summer, rain water is better for plants than chlorinated city water, and collecting water during storms helps to decrease runoff from our properties thus making a small step towards controlling flooding downstream.

Some local sources include: