What is a Raingarden?

Raingardens are landscaped depressions that are designed to capture and treat stormwater runoff. 

Stormwater runoff usually travels over hard surfaces, such as driveways and roads, into the stormsewer system. Runoff in the stormsewer is discharged, untreated, into downstream water bodies such as Rice Creek, Moore Lake, or the Mississippi River. However, raingardens can capture this runoff and allow it to naturally infiltrate through the soil instead. 

By allowing water to naturally infiltrate through the soil, raingardens can reduce flooding and remove pollutants such as sediment and phosphorus. This improves the quality of our water! Raingardens can also be landscaped with native, pollinator-friendly plants to support our amazing pollinators!

Raingardens in Your Yard

If you're interested in improving water quality, a raingarden may be a great addition to your yard! Raingardens can be designed to capture runoff from your roof and driveway or from the street using a curb-cut. 

Installing Your Raingarden


Coon Creek Watershed District

Rice Creek Watershed District

Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

Not all properties are suitable for raingardens. Anoka Conservation District offers site assessment to help determine if and where a raingarden should be installed on your yard. 

If you're interested in a curb-cut raingarden to treat runoff from your street. Contact Rachel Workin, Environmental Planner at 763-572-3594 or rachel.workin@fridleymn.gov to discuss available technical and financial support. 

Maintaining Your Raingarden

Like any landscaped area, raingardens need to be maintained. Keeping all inlets clear and weeding your raingarden goes a long way to ensuring that it stays functional and looks great. Check out these maintenance tips from Metro Blooms as well as upcoming workshops on raingarden maintenance.  

Go Further


Step 1. Rainfall


Step 2. Water collects and infiltrates into the raingarden


Step 3. Filtered water returns to the groundwater table


New raingarden capturing water

Hughes We2t

New raingarden after runoff has infiltrated

Hughes raingardenDry