In many communities, increasing urbanization and larger storms have led to more flooding. In addition, rainwater that hits pavement and flows into drains, and then to nearby water bodies, picks up pollutants along the way. One approach to reduce flooding and protect water quality is installing green infrastructure, including rain gardens. Rainwater soaks into the garden, and pollutants are filtered by plant roots.

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant continues to offer the Rainscaping Education Program through both Illinois Extension and Purdue University Extension. We offer workshops for Master Gardeners and other community members to learn about rain gardens and other rainscaping techniques.

In 2024, training took place in Kane County in Illinois, for 17 participants and in Indiana, for 14 participants in Marion, Noble, and Steuben counties, which included installing three demonstration rain gardens. The workshops brought together Master Gardeners, agency and organization representatives, stormwater and landscape experts, and consultants.

The new demonstration gardens are sited at an extension office, an Indianapolis school, and a library, and capture nearly 202,000 gallons of stormwater each year. Altogether, the rainscaping demonstration gardens installed since the program began capture nearly 1.4 million gallons each year, calculated using average rainfall and garden area.