Collier Soil and Water Conservation District

An example rain garden was recently installed at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Naples, with help from the Naples High School Track Team.

See a photo gallery from the Naples Daily News here.

From the Conservancy of Southwest Florida:

“The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is developing changes to our water quality regulation that will create a new lower classification for the “uses” of Florida waters.  This proposal threatens to significantly reduce water-quality standards and protections for our regional waterbodies!”     ACT NOW

Rain gardens capture stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces before that water can reach the stormwater system.  They help improve the quality of natural bodies of water by holding back this runoff and the pollutants in it.  Read more about rain gardens here:

Rain Gardens in Naples (PDF, 1.24 MB)

Rain Barrel Information (PDF, 24 KB)

A press release from the United States Department of Agriculture details funding for the Wetlands Reserve Enhancement Program (WREP).  Applications will be accepted until May 24, 2010.

WREP Conservation Assistance (PDF, 58.4 KB)