Nonprofit organization partners with local nursery in Prince George’s County, Maryland to install a stormwater practice demonstration site and resource center.
Communities all across the Chesapeake Bay watershed are doing their part to improve the health of our environment by installing practices to manage and reduce polluted stormwater runoff. Polluted stormwater runoff negatively impacts our streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay.
In Prince George’s County, Maryland, homeowners, businesses, and others have the opportunity to help reduce the impact of stormwater runoff through the Rain Check Rebate program. This program offers property owners reimbursements for installing approved practices.
In 2014 and 2015, the Low Impact Development Center partnered with Behnke Nurseries to install a resource center and demonstration of the Rain Check Rebate practices on the nursery’s property. This demonstration project installed all seven of the approved practices: rain barrels, cisterns, urban tree canopy, rain gardens, pavement removal, permeable pavement, and green roofs. Each of the practices include signage that explains the practices’ function and importance. Since these seven stormwater practices were implemented, the site has hosted several outreach and educational events, as well as self-guided tours for visitors. This project was supported by two grant awards through the Prince George’s County Stormwater Stewardship Grant Program.
Earlier this month, Behnke Nurseries announced the nursery will be closing in June. We encourage you to visit Behnke Nurseries to see all seven of the Rain Check Rebate Practices and view the educational kiosk. Thank you to Behnke Nurseries for using their site over the last few years to showcase how the Rain Check Rebate program works to clean water.
Learn more about the Rain Check Rebate program, the approved practices, and how to participate at cbtrust.org/prince-georges-county-rain-check-rebate.
