Rain garden installation in 2014
Earlier this month the Clackamas United Church of Christ (CUCC) was awarded first place in a national “Be the Church of the Month” contest with the theme “Protect the Environment.” This honor highlighted two urban conservation practices the church installed on their property in 2014.
It was March of 2014 when CUCC partnered with Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District to implement on-site stormwater management practices at the church. With funding from a Water Environment Services RiverHealth Stewardship grant and with volunteer labor from the CUCC congregation, two conservation practices were installed:
- an infiltration rain garden, and
- a habitat hedgerow (including 25 native trees along the parking lot perimeter).
Both projects are accessible to the public and demonstrate low-impact landscaping practices that landowners can easily replicate on their own property to help manage stormwater runoff. Interpretive signage explains how the rain garden works and how it protects water quality and improves pollinator habitat. Plants for both rain garden and hedgerow were specifically chosen to support native wildlife and pollinator communities.
You may view these projects at the Clackamas United Church of Christ located at 15303 SE Webster Road in Milwaukie, Oregon.
Clackamas Soil and Water Conservation District provides technical assistance for conservation practices free of charge to Clackamas County landowners.
