Science & Innovations - Rain Gardens

What is a Rain Garden?

Rain gardens are specially-designed gardens that collect and infiltrate stormwater. Rain gardens are created by excavating a shallow depression and filling the area with a mixture of compost-amended soils topped with mulch. Rain gardens use the concept of bio-retention, a water quality practice in which plants and soils naturally remove pollutants from stormwater. The newly constructed rain garden is then planted with drought-tolerant plants that may consist of native plants as well as ornamentals. The result is an attractive landscape feature that helps reduce stormwater pollution while recharging groundwater aquifers.

Benefits of Rain Gardens

Stormwater carries numerous pollutants that negatively impact the water quality of our streams and Puget Sound. Rain gardens are constructed to directly capture stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces such as driveways, roofs, or city streets. The purpose of the rain garden is to retain (hold) and clean the stormwater so it can slowly infiltrate into the ground instead of flowing directly into streams and Puget Sound.

Learn More about Rain Gardens

To learn more about how to construct a rain garden in your yard, download a printer-friendly (PDF) copy of Washington State University/Pierce County Extension's "Rain Garden Handbook for Western Washington Homeowners", or contact the Stormwater Utility for a hard copy booklet.

Rain Garden Plants and Templates

Rain gardens can take on different shapes, but the types of plants that are cited in the garden must tolerate both soaking wet and dry conditions. Our Rain Garden Plant List (PDF), prepared by Mary Jo Buza, gives plants that are appropriate for Olympia weather and soil conditions. Download our accompanying printer-friendly templates of rain garden designs for sunny and shady areas, which were designed by Mary Jo Buza for the City of Olympia.

Visit local rain gardens!

There are several rain gardens in Olympia:

• Woodland Trail entrance at Eastside Street, SE - Public
• DirtWorks at Yauger Park (refer to our printer-friendly brochure) - Public
• 11th Avenue, SW (north side near Thomas Street) - Public
• Decatur Street, SW (next to Decatur Woods Park near 11th Avenue, SW) - Public
• Bowman Avenue, NW and Division Street, NW (northeast corner) - Public
• 436 McPhee Road, SW - Private

Questions?

For more information on Rain Gardens, or to learn about upcoming workshops, contact City of Olympia staff Michelle Stevie at 360.753.8336 or Patricia Pyle at 360.570.5841.

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Contacting Public Works:

• Physical Address: 924 7th Ave. SE, Suite A
• Mailing Address: PO Box 1967, Olympia, WA 98507
• Download printer-friendly (PDF) directions to our office
• Hours: M - F from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except for City-recognized holidays)
• Phone: 360.753.8588
• TTY 360.753.270
• Email: publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us
• Public Works home page