Rain gardens, swales, and stormwater planters are important tools in the stormwater management toolkit, soaking up runoff from streets, parking lots, and buildings. Proper maintenance of these facilities is integral to keep them operating effectively. With so many of them now installed across the Portland metro area, a lot has been learned by municipalities and organizations involved with this work. 

The stormwater facility maintenance Field Guide provides much of the information landscape contractors and others will need in order to properly maintain rain gardens, swales, stormwater planters, and other facilities. Topics covered include erosion, sedimentation, vegetation and weeds, structures, trash and debris, safety. The field manual covers the most common maintenance activities that workers will need to remedy and provides lots of photos as a guide.  

The Field Guide was created by Clackamas County Water Environment Services, Clean Water Services, East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District, Green Girl LDS, Metro, City of Portland Environmental Services, Pacific Landscape Management, and Pacific Sports Turf.

See the document online at:  http://extension.oregonstate.edu/stormwater/sites/default/files/fieldguide.pdf