What is a rain garden?

    LINNEUS — The Southern Aroostook Soil & Water Conservation District recently held a rain garden demonstration at Jim and Hollie McPartland’s residence at Nickerson Lake. The demonstration was part of the outreach and education on behalf of the “Nickerson Lake Conservation Project,” a two-year grant project funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and administered through the Maine Department of Environmental Protection.
    Rain gardens are designed to capture and filter water from roofs, driveways and other hard surfaces. They are bowl-shaped vegetated areas that allow the captured stormwater to slowly soak into the ground, filtering the water before it goes into the lake.
Contributed photo/Angie Wotton
RAIN GARDEN — Taking part in the Southern Aroostook Soil & Water Conservation District’s rain garden demonstration are, from left, Jimmy and Hollie McPartland, Don Collins and Nancy Putnam.
    Participants were able to witness first-hand how the garden worked on the rainy morning as water from the driveway was running directly into the garden. Native plants were planted in a soil mixture of sand, loam and compost and then mulched. The end result was a beautiful flower garden that is helping to control pollutants from entering Nickerson Lake. For additional information on building your own home rain garden, contact the SASWCD at 532-2087 or check out fact sheets online at www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/docwatershed/materials.htm.