Why are we taking action?  Every year, 14 to 94 million pounds of pollutants flow into our Puget Sound, negatively impacting the water supply and marine life.  According to the Department of Ecology, the number one source of this pollution is rain runoff.  

By reducing pollutants at their source and manging the flow of rain water through natural infrastructure, we enhance water quality, provide lasting attractive landscaping, and provide urban habitat for wildlife.  We can all be a part of the sollution to preventing runoff pollution from reaching our lakes, rivers, creeks and Puget Sound.

What is Sustainable Seattle doing?  Last year, Sustainable Seattle installed 5 rain gardens in south Seattle through our Sustainable Rain program. Learn more about Sustainable Rain.

This year, we are building on that effort, working with residents and community centers to increase the number of installations and expand understanding around rain gardens and other types green infrastructure.  This work is made possible through a grant from the Russell Family Foundation.  

Sustainable Seattle believes that installing rain gardens and green infrastructure together, with your neighbors, will build community and open up the conversation about long-term sustainability in your neighborhood.

In Delridge and Northeast neighborhoods, we are actively looking for residents interested in installing rain gardens or cisterns.  Sustainable Seattle can:

 Interested in learning more or getting involved? Contact us!

Current Projects

Highland Park Improvement Club

The Sustainable Neighborhoods team is also working with the Highland Park Improvement Club to build a demonstration green infrastructure site.  Find out more about this exciting project here!  Let us know if you think your neighborhood is ripe for a demonstration and we will talk to you about the possibilities!

Install Rain Gardens with your Neighbors!

Excited about rain gardens?  We are looking for ambassadors who are excited about rain gardens.  When you build rain gardens with your neighbors, it can build community, be more cost effective and have more measurable water quality benefits!  Plus, by the end, you will have a built-in rain garden support system!  

When we all work together, we can make large strides to protect our Puget Sound and local waterways, building a vibrant city for future generations.

More Resources

All over the city, there are efforts to expand education and increase installations of green infrastructure.  Here are a couple of our current partners in these efforts:

12,000 Rain Gardens A program of Stewardship Partners and Washington State Extension Program.  Check out their resources, including a rain garden hand book, here.

RainWise Learn how to become RainWise! See if your property is in an incentive zone and eligible for a rain garden or cistern rebate!  Seattle Public Utilities and King County are co-sponsoring this program to involve homeowners in preventing pollution from reaching our waterways. Learn more.

The Tox-Ick Monster This educational campaign wants you to take action on the 7 simple solutions to reduce pollution in the Puget Sound.  It also provides many other educational resources.  Learn more.

Sustainable Ballard's Virtual Rain Garden Tour In Ballard, almost 200 residents have installed RainWise rain gardens!  Check out some of their stories in Sustainable Ballard's Virtual Tour.