The Fishers Rain Garden Steward program allows the community to get involved in sustainability projects in Fishers and to help protect our natural resources. The program coordinates with volunteers who will help us maintain our 27 rain gardens located throughout the city. This program does not require prior knowledge of rain garden care, in fact, we strive for participants to learn something along the way! Maintenance varies at each rain garden location, however common tasks include removing invasive, cutting cattail heads, over seeding, and removing trash.

What is a Rain Garden

A rain garden is a garden of native shrubs, perennials, and flowers planted in a small depression. It is designed to temporarily hold and soak in rainwater runoff that flows from roofs, driveways, patios, lawns, or other hard (impervious) surfaces, preventing it from entering the storm sewer system. Soil and plant roots use natural processes to improve water quality by filtering pollutants. Rain gardens are effective in removing up to 90 percent of nutrients and chemicals, and up to 80 percent of sediments from the storm water runoff. Compared to a conventional lawn, rain gardens allow for 30 percent more water to soak into the ground. The water is held by the garden and allowed to slowly infiltrate the soil, providing an important role in recharging ground water supplies and reducing storm water runoff volumes to local streams. A rain garden is not a pond or wetland but is dry most of the time and typically holds water for not more than two days during and following a rainfall event.

 The Role of a Rain Garden Steward Participant 

The primary role is to help maintain rain gardens regularly. Training and supplies will be provided. After responding to a Rain Garden Steward opportunity, Fishers Water Quality Educator, Ava Hiatt, will contact you with more information.