Stormwater Best Management Practices and Rain Garden Program For Extension Agents.

Stormwater management is an important issue for the 102 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) communities across Kentucky.  These communities are required to implement 6 minimum control measures, two of which involve public education and public participation/involvement.  Extension agents are ideally suited to assist in meeting these regulatory requirements through their local offices and network.  We developed a 6-hour hands-on educational program for extension agents and community leaders with the objective of explaining stormwater issues and practical remediation strategies to Kentucky Extension agents and community leaders highlighting efficient hands-on strategies.  A small mini-grant was provided to the host county/4-H camp to cover the cost of materials.  Personnel invited included Extension agents, Master Gardeners and other interested parties (e.g. watershed coordinators, Soil and Water Conservation District personnel).  Before the workshop a publicly accessible location was selected for a rain garden and much of the basin construction and downspout revision, if needed, was completed as a time saving measure.  The workshop begins with a discussion section broken into seven parts:  Stormwater and Attainable Household Best Management Practices, Rain Gardens, Siting, Design, Construction, Plant Selection and Installation and Maintenance.  After a lunch paid for from registration fees, the participants go outside and review design and construction activities completed prior to the workshop.  Participants then apply their learned plant installation techniques and install the plants in the basin and mulch the garden.  Since Spring 2011, 40 workshops have been held in 32 counties with resulting demonstration rain gardens at county extension offices, 4-H camps, intermediate and elementary schools, community centers and city parks.   Of the pre- and post-surveyed participants at the workshops over 90% indicated they will install a rain garden, adopt other landscaping best management practices to protect water quality, reduce water use in their landscape, and educate others about stormwater issues.