Rain Gardens at Dairy Forage Research Center

On June 9, several scouts, their leaders, and volunteers from the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center (USDFRC) joined forces to plant the Sauk Prairie Community Rain Garden at the USDFRC farm north of Prairie du Sac. Also helping was Serge Koenig of the Sauk County Conservation, Planning, and Zoning Department, a local advocate of rain gardens.

The inspiration for the rain garden, which is designed to be a demonstration project for the community, came when the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture challenged USDA employees to create People’s Gardens at their locations across the country (the USDFRC is part of the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service). Since the USDFRC farm is located within the former Badger Army Ammunition Plant, a community rain garden also seemed like a logical way to honor the Badger Reuse Plan. More specifically, it provides an educational activity -- one that teaches sustainability; fosters community involvement; and shares the land with the public.

The community is invited to view the rain garden as it develops from its “infancy” this summer to a more mature state next summer. The Sauk Prairie Community Rain Garden is located at the first of two houses on the driveway to the USDFRC farm just off of Hwy. 78 north of Prairie du Sac. The address is S8822 Sunset Drive.

A rain garden is a specialized garden designed to reduce rainwater runoff from hard surfaces such as roofs, driveways, sidewalks, parking lots and compacted lawns. It consists of a shallow depression in the ground, filled with native plants; this combination helps the earth absorb more rainwater and melted snow.

Why is this important? For one reason, water that is absorbed by rain gardens filters through the soil and helps recharge the groundwater system. Rain gardens also help reduce the amount of storm water runoff; this reduces the chance of local flooding, and it reduces the amount of pollutants that runoff otherwise picks up and carries into rivers and lakes.