Rain Gardening in the Home Landscape
Story and photographs by Kim Counts Morganello , Water Resources Agent , Clemson Extension
The Lowcountry is defined by meandering tidal creeks and rivers , vast salt marshes , majestic cypress tupelo swamps , and gorgeous beaches . As residents of this special place , we play a role in protecting these shared natural resources for current and future generations . Actions that we take on land directly impact our precious local waterways . When rain falls on impervious surfaces , such as rooftops , driveways , and compacted lawns , the rainfall is unable to infiltrate , or soak into the ground , and becomes stormwater runoff . As stormwater runoff moves across the landscape , it picks up pollutants we leave behind , such as pet waste , excess fertilizers , litter , oil , and gasoline , and carries these materials downstream . Stormwater flows into a nearby waterway untreated ; as a result , stormwater runoff pollution is considered the leading threat to water quality of the surface waters in the United States .