Environmental Services recently partnered with 33 home and business owners in southeast Portland to install rain gardens that manage stormwater from their roofs.  The roofs add up to a total of 45,000 square feet, which is almost the size of a football field.  

A big thanks to all these people for working with us for clean rivers!

The projects are around SE 44th and Salmon, and SE 11th and Powell.  See more photos below.

These rain gardens infiltrate nearly one million gallons of stormwater each year that would otherwise enter our combined sewer system pipes, contributing to basement sewage back ups and sewer overflows to the Willamette River.  The projects are part of the public-private partnerships happening in the Tabor to the River area.  In Tabor to the River, green infrastructure like rain gardens and green streets are helping save sewer ratepayers $63 million as the City improves the old sewer system.

In targeted areas, the City partners with property owners to design and build stormwater facilities to be safe for the site and neighboring properties.  The program is voluntary and the property owner retains ownership at all times.  Following construction, the property owners maintain the new rain gardens.  These projects were constructed by local companies Blossom Earthworks and Dinsdale Landscapes.  Sometimes the property owners contribute their own touches, like garden art.

For more information, check out this video How to Build a Rain Garden, and upcoming rain garden workshops from the East Multnomah Soil and Water Conservation District.