North Shore Rain Garden Project

What is a rain garden? A rain garden is a shallow depressed area filled with organic soil materials and planted with plants tolerant of our increasingly wet winters and dry summers. The design allows the flow of rainwater run-off from impervious urban areas such as streets and sidewalks, parking lots, driveways, roofs and compacted lawn areas, to be slowed, filtered and absorbed—particularly during periods of heavy rain—rather than entering the storm sewer system.

Why build rain gardens on the North Shore? The project is particularly relevant for the North Shore with its location between Burrard Inlet and the steep southern slopes of the North Shore Mountains. The area’s numerous watershed systems of rivers, streams and creeks, many of them salmon-bearing, are fed by a combination of rain—the highest in Metro Vancouver—and melting snowpack. These factors have contributed to flooding, erosion and damage to salmon habitat, particularly when the urbanized landscape does not provide adequate permeable surfaces for water. As well, the North Shore has experienced industrial and residential toxic spills that have contaminated the ecosystem.

A shout out to our supporters! We are grateful to the corporations, funding organizations, municipal governments and community groups who are helping us get the NSRGP “in the ground”! QuadReal Property Group, The Nature Trust of British Columbia, North Growth Foundation, City of North Vancouver, Living City, North Shore Streamkeepers, District of West Vancouver, West Vancouver Streamkeeper Society, and the Western Residents Association of West Vancouver.

How you can get involved. To date we have build two demonstration rain gardens, working with local municipalities, community volunteers and with support from our partners and funders. The first rain garden build took place in September, 2019 in the parking lot of North Vancouver’s Capilano Mall. In October, we worked with the Western Residents Association of West Vancouver and West Vancouver District to build the Mary Bayes Community Rain Garden in Horseshoe Bay’s Douglas Park, supported by the West Vancouver Foundation. Check out our build photo albums and stay tuned for more information on volunteer opportunities or contact [email protected]. Follow us on Facebook for updates on volunteering, future community garden builds—and information and resources for building your own rain garden. If you would like to become a supporter of NSRGP, contact: [email protected]

Happy rain gardening!

City of North Vancouver, District of North Vancouver, District of West Vancouver, QuadReal Property Group, The Nature Trust of British Columbia, NorthShore Streamkeepers, West Vancouver Streamkeeper Society, Pacific Streamkeepers Federation, Western Residents Association of West Vancouver, Capilano Mall, 12,000 Rain Gardens, Pacific Salmon Foundation

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