Watershed District Adds Rain Gardens to Minnetrista Neighborhood

In an effort to improve water quality in Langdon and Saunders Lake, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District has installed four curb-cut raingardens in the South Saunders neighborhood of Minnetrista.

Raingardens are landscaping features that use native perennial plants to filter polluted rainwater that would otherwise end up in a storm drain, and travel untreated into a nearby lake or stream. They’re planted in a shallow depression that collects and holds rainwater after a storm. 

Curb-cut raingardens are especially effective, because they are designed to catch water running down the street before it reaches the storm drain.   

Raingardens absorb harmful material including oil, debris and algae-causing nutrients from the water and beautify the landscape. Raingardens are becoming increasingly popular, as they are attractive, relatively easy to install, require little maintenance and protect the environment.

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District’s Cost Share program can help fund water-friendly projects like raingardens and shoreline plantings. More information is available at www.minnehahacreek.org/grants.

Information provided by the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District