Rain to Roots

WHAT IS RAIN TO ROOTS?

The Rain to Roots program is a suite of services that aims to promote education and resources surrounding stormwater runoff impacts and nature-based solutions. The program is available to watershed residents to increase the capacity for green stormwater infrastructure opportunities on their property. CRWC provides site consultation services and rain barrel installations at cost. 

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT

In the Clinton River watershed, managing stormwater runoff is the biggest challenge facing the health of the river and Lake St. Clair. More than 55% of our watershed is covered in impervious surfaces like roads, parking lots, roofs, driveways, and other developments. As rain events become more frequent and intense, stormwater runs off of these impervious surfaces directly into the storm drain and eventually into the Clinton River, bringing with it pollutants such as fertilizer, pesticides, heavy metals, salt, and more. Much of the watershed’s land is privately owned, meaning our freshwater relies on individual stewardship now more than ever.  

RAIN TO ROOTS SERVICES

Staff from CRWC will visit your property and provide consultation about stormwater issues as well as how to capture stormwater for the health of our waterways.

At your stormwater consultation, the CRWC Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) team will help you evaluate your property and discuss viable options for GSI infrastructure for your home. Our team will answer any questions that you may have and provide you with helpful resources. We specialize in rain barrels, rain gardens, trees, and native plant gardens.   

 This service is great for homeowners that:  

  • Want to manage stormwater and flooding on their property, but don’t know where to start 

  • Hope to turn their property into a practical tool for environmental protection 

  • Are interested for green landscaping solutions

Stormwater Consultations

Potential topics include: 

  • How to capture stormwater on your property to reduce pooling water.  

  • The best location, size and plants for a rain garden on your property.   

  • Which native plants are recommended if a rain garden is not suitable or advisable for the location.  

  • How to install a rain barrel, the materials you’ll need, and the required maintenance.  

  • How native trees can help with stormwater capture and best planting practices. 

After the consultation, our team will provide you with our notes, resources for project installation and recommended contractors. 

During a rain barrel installation, we determine the best location for your barrel, provide all materials, and complete the installation. Rain barrels are perfect for those who use water outdoors for activities such as watering gardens and lawns, rinsing tools, and washing cars. Using rain barrel water for these tasks can lead to substantial savings on water bills, especially during peak usage periods.

Rain Barrel Installations

This service is great for homeowners that:  

  • Do not want to, or are unable to, install a rain barrel

  • Prefer not to source rain barrel materials 

  • Want to ensure the rain barrel is installed properly and in a suitable location 

  • Need a quick and stress-free installation

Installation materials include:

  • One 55-gallon recycled food grade drum rain barrel

  • Diverter 

  • Cinder block stand

  • Educational materials

Homeowners can choose a black or terra cotta rain barrel.

Following the installation, CRWC staff will provide a maintenance document. For more information on rain barrels, visit crwc.org/rain-barrels.

Complete one of the forms below to request a consultation or installation. Once a payment is made, you will receive an email to schedule a consultation or installation.

Stormwater consultations ($200) are offered Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9:15 AM, 10:45 AM and 12:45 PM. 

Rain barrel installations ($350) are available Thursdays at 9:30 AM and Noon. 

If none of these dates or times work for you, please email gsi@crwc.org and we are happy to accommodate on a case-by-case basis. 

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION OR INSTALLATION

PILOT COMMUNITIES

CRWC is starting the initial launch of the Rain to Roots program in Center Line, Sterling Heights and Warren. These communities were selected as a result of the First National Flood Risk Assessment. This flood model identified these communities as having the greatest number of properties at risk.  

These communities are part of the Red Run subwatershed, which is the most densely populated region of our watershed. The Red Run faces unique challenges in dealing with stormwater runoff due to the prevalence of impervious surfaces. 

If you are outside of the Center Line, Sterling Heights and Warren communities, but are within the Clinton River Watershed and have an interest in any of these programs and services, please fill out this survey.  

Rain to Roots is just one of the many programs at CRWC that focuses on green stormwater infrastructure. Check out some of our other programs here.

  • PLAN A RAIN GARDEN

  • INSTALL A RAIN BARREL

    LEARN MORE

  • PLANT A TREE