Rain gardens are shallow, constructed depressions that are planted with deep-rooted native plants and grasses. While rain water has been collected in gardens since ancient times, the concept of the residential rain garden is a recent idea. Conversion of land into impermeable surfaces creates new challenges for storm water runoff. This course provides an explanation of how rain gardens work and their eco-friendly benefits. Course participants will learn to calculate catchment zones, design for various soil types, and calculate slope adjustments.  This course provides economical options to the otherwise costly stormwater challenges. The course provides information for design and construction including: FAQs, sizing and siting locations, landscaping, plant selection, catchment zones, slope calculations, designs for various soil types, construction, settling, and cost calculations. The purpose of this course is to understand the benefits of rain gardens within high potential storm water systems. The course materials further teach how to calculate rain water catchment areas, appropriate landscaping and vegetation, and how to estimate costs. Learning Objectives Specific Knowledge or Skill Obtained

• Know where to locate and how to determine the storm water catchment zone;
• Know how to design the storm water catchment zone;
• Understand how rain gardens reduce storm water pollution,
• Understand how to reduce erosion and other negative impacts;
• Become familiar rain garden designs in sandy, and silty soil;
• Become familiar rain garden designs in clayey soil;
• Have an understanding of appropriate native plants and vegetation that will best benefit a rain garden system;
• Be capable to design storm water drainage and overflow systems; and
• Have the tools to estimate materials and calculate rain garden costs.