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Incorporating Green Infrastructure

When rain and snowmelt flow off our yards, roofs, sidewalks, streets and parking lots, the resulting stormwater runoff washes pollutants and sediments into our lakes, rivers and streams. Incorporating Green Infrastructure (GI) at home can benefit your yard, save you some money and help reduce the amount of stormwater entering the Rouge River. These GI examples make it easier and less costly to maintain your yard, all while keeping it looking beautiful and protecting the Rouge River!

DISCONNECT DOWNSPOUTS

Disconnect your downspots - this easy change reroutes the rainwater running off your roof that was going into the storm sewer to draining it into permeable areas in your yard. Redirect downspouts away from hard, paved surfaces into vegetated areas, such as a rain garden, or into a rain barrel for later use in your garden which will save on your water bill! Rain gardens are growing in popularity because they look great and filter pollutants out of runoff allowing clean water to infiltrate and replenish groundwater supplies.
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Disconnect your downspout (on the left) from going into the storm
drain to having it drain into your flower bed (on the right) where it
will go back into the grounwater.

RAIN BARRELS

Redirect downspouts away from hard, paved surfaces into a rain barrel for later use to water your plants and garden. Using the free water captured in a rain barrel saves you money by reducing your water bill. Visit our partner Friends of the Rouge to purchase your rain barrel.
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Install a rain barrel to collect
free water for use in your garden.

RAIN GARDENS

Rain gardens, planted with perennial native flowers and plants are a beautiful and cost effective way to reduce runoff from your yard. Rain gardens are an easy and natural way to protect our water resources by collecting and absorbing stormwater runoff. The native plants and soil trap and filter sediments and pollution and clean the water before it reaches our waterways. Rain gardens provide native habitat that attract butterflies, birds and other wildlife. Visit our partner Friends of the Rouge to learn how to incorporate rain gardens into your yard.
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Rain gardens are beautiful and help filter runoff before going.

PLANT TREES

A healthy tree canopy and root system is important to the environment providing a natural filter to pollutants and reducing storm water runoff, flooding and erosion. Trees act as a natural air filter reducing air pollutants while producing healthy oxygen. Trees provide cooling shade while being visually pleasing to your yard. Houses that are shaded by trees need less energy for cooling which means lower monthly utility bills in summer months. Neighborhoods with trees and well-landscaped yards increase home values and can make your home sell faster. If you are a business owner research has shown that customers react positivly to shopping in areas that have trees.
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Plant trees to protect water quality
and save on your energy bills!

LANDSCAPING & NATIVE PLANTS

Use porous landscaping materials, such as brick paving stones, sand or gravel beds and mulched areas, allowing spaces where water can infiltrate around and through the materials. Landscaping with Michigan native plants is economical because they are adapted to local soil and climate conditons and once established will require less trimming, watering and fertilizing. Native plants also naturally resist pests and diseases, eliminating the need for harmful pesticides. Native plants attract wildlife, such as butterflies, dragonflies and hummingbirds, and can discourage nuisance species, like Canada geese. Native plants have extensive root systems that promote infiltration of water and filter pollutants and sediment from runoff. Visit our partner Friends of the Rouge to purchase native plants for your yard.
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Native plants require less water and fertilizer,
filter out pollutants and provide habitat
for butterflies and hummingbirds.

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Phone | 734-768-2180

46036 Michigan Ave., Suite 126 | Canton, Michigan 48188