East Jefferson Rain Gardens
19 gardens, 3 cities.
About
What happens when you combine working with your community, caring for the natural environment, and creating something beautiful? You get a rain garden! Rain gardens are green eco-warriors, filtering harmful pollutants from stormwater runoff before it can reach our marine and nearshore ecosystems. When it rains, water flowing over our rooftops, driveways and streets picks up contaminants such as car oil, tire particulates (6-PPD), pesticides, and pet waste (E. coli). Recent studies have directly linked runoff containing tire particulates to coho salmon mortality in the Salish Sea. By implementing green infrastructure, such as rain gardens, we can address stormwater runoff and help protect our beaches, surrounding waters, and marine life. In 2014, the Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee (MRC) and WSU Jefferson County Extension identified stormwater runoff as a priority focus area for local marine stewardship efforts. The first MRC-sponsored rain garden was built that year on the corner of Garfield and Adams Street, and since then, 18 more rain gardens have being installed across East Jefferson County (as of September 2023). The MRC is now refocusing its efforts on maintaining this network of rain gardens, with the help of community volunteers - some who "adopt" a rain garden and take lead on stewarding them, others who join work parties to help weed and replant gardens as needed. All contributions are appreciated and everyone is welcome to help us take care of these rain gardens, to ensure they continue to filter stormwater, beautify our neighborhoods, and promote native pollinators.
Map
Click on a point to learn more or scroll through chronologically.
01 / 19
1
Garfield & Adams
Installed 2014 This rain garden has been taken over by grasses, with some well established yarrow and creeping raspberries. While Ann chips away at some of the overgrowth, the MRC plans to help recruit more hands through organizing a rain garden work party sometime in spring 2024 - keep an eye out!
2
Garfield & Madison SW
Installed 2015 Stewarded by community volunteers.
3
Washington & Walker Street (Courthouse)
Installed 2016 Stewarded by dedicated community volunteers, Ellen Larkin and Sarah Fairbank, both Jefferson County Master Gardeners.
4
Taylor & Clay Street (Community Center)
Installed 2016 Stewarded by Cindy Meston.
5
Chimacum & Oak Bay Road (1st Security Bank)
Installed 2017 Stewarded by 1st Security Bank.
6
Chetzemoka Park
Installed 2017 Stewarded by community volunteers, Master Gardeners Barbara Faurot and Kathy Darrow. More about this garden: This is our only rain garden located in a park!
7
Garfield & Madison NW
Installed 2018 In Need of Stewardship!
8
Lincoln & Van Buren
Installed 2018 Stewarded by community volunteer, Master Gardener Sarah Fairbank.
9
Quilcene School 1
Installed 2018 Stewarded by Quilcene School.
10
Center Road
Installed 2019 In Need of Stewardship!
11
Lincoln & Adams
Installed 2019 In Need of Stewardship!
12
Cape George
Installed 2020 Stewarded by the Cape George Environmental Committee.
13
Benton & Clay
Installed 2020 In Need of Stewardship!
14
Quilcene School 2
Installed 2021
Stewarded by Quilcene School.
15
Franklin & Adams
Installed 2021
This rain garden was installed with the help of WSU Extension, Native Plant Salvage Foundation, and 9 community volunteers. Some of the original plants have thrived, while others have already disappeared. As with many rain gardens around Port Townsend, deer have frequented this area and nibbled away at some of the plants. However, the greatest challenge at this particular location has been the invasion of Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) ! Once established, this noxious weed spreads quickly and outcompetes native plants. The MRC organized several work parties in 2022 and 2023 to tackle its spread, initially hand-removing the thistle and covering the area with mulch to discourage further growth, and ultimately treating it with natural herbicide. As of August 2023, the thistle seems to be under control. However, please help us keep an eye on this rain garden and contact Jeff.Co.MRC@gmail.com if you spot thistle returning here (or any other problem weeds). Thank you to Janette Mestre, Frank Handler, David Winters, Rose Fabrick and others who have dedicated numerous hours to stewarding this rain garden.
In Need of Stewardship
16
Water & Monroe Street
Rehabilitated 2021
This rain garden was rehabilitated in partnership with WSU Extension and the NW Maritime Center's Bravo Team students. Read more about the rehabilitation effort in this NWMC blog post . This garden is our only location in downtown Port Townsend, and could use a little help from time to time! In Need of Stewardship
17
WSU Extension Office
Installed September 2022
This rain garden was installed behind the WSU Extension office in Port Hadlock to treat some of the stormwater flowing from nearby roads (Irondale Road and Oak Bay Road), building rooftops, and parking lots at the Kivley Center and into South Port Townsend Bay. The 18' x 22' rain garden was installed in one day with the help of WSU Extension (rain garden design), Native Plant Salvage Foundation (plant selection and delivery), and 15 community volunteers! Click through the photos to see the original plant list.
Stewarded by Master Gardener volunteers, Renee Blattner and Mindy Rupley, as of 2023.
18
Old Alcohol Plant Inn
Installed May 2023
This rain garden was installed in partnership with WSU Extension (rain garden design), Native Plant Salvage Foundation (plant selection and delivery), Old Alcohol Plant Inn staff and three community volunteers (Frank, Renee, and Taghi)! Click through the photos to see the original plant list. Stewarded by The Old Alcohol Plant Inn groundskeeping staff.
19
Swan School
Installed September 2023
This rain garden, located at the corner of 24th and Kuhn St. in Port Townsend, was installed with the help of WSU Extension (rain garden design), Native Plant Salvage Foundation (plant selection and delivery), City of Port Townsend (excavation), Swan School staff and students, and thirteen community volunteers! This is a comparatively larger rain garden, measuring 30’ by 50’ with a planned ponding depth of 9”. Over the coming years, this rain garden will serve its ecological function as well as teach students at the Swan School about stormwater management, the pollution mitigation capabilities of plants and bioretention soil mixes, and their schoolground's connection to the local marine environment. Click through the photos to see the original plant list.
Help with maintenance would be appreciated!
Get Involved!
You might have noticed that several of the rain gardens do not have designated stewards. Rain gardens require a small amount of maintenance throughout the year so that they can continue to function properly (and look beautiful). These rain gardens need your help! Want to be part of your town's green infrastructure solutions? There are two ways to get involved: 1. Sign up for our mailing list to be on call for future work parties and events. Doing so is low-commitment, and it is completely up to you how many days a year you would like to contribute. 2. Sign up to adopt a rain garden and have partial-to-full responsibility of a particular garden throughout the year. This is medium commitment, with only a few days a year needed to maintain the garden. The MRC will assist you with supplies, training, and volunteers as needed. You can also sign up as a group to adopt a garden with fellow neighbors or with a community club. --> SIGN UP HERE Questions? Email Jeff.Co.MRC@gmail.com