Backyard Conversation
Connecting Community + Conservation
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Welcome to the Backyard Conversation! Each month we'll be sharing a conservation topic from a more personal viewpoint for our readers. To make this successful, I want to hear feedback from you! I'll include a poll at the bottom regarding our topic and share links to some of our partner organizations with similar messages. So, let's get to it! |
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Backyard Flooding & Drainage Problems
How to Mitigate Common Drainage Issues
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Considering "water" is in our name at Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, we get lots of calls from residents and organizations about flooding and drainage problems around Franklin County. It's very common in the spring especially, and following a heavy rain event, we expect lots of calls the next day. Although it's been relatively dry lately, let's talk about why these drainage issues are occurring and how we can work to mitigate them.
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Why Does it Flood After a Heavy Rain? |
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Central Ohio was once a big farming community with a lot of clay and hydric soils. Clay soil holds water particularly well, sometimes too well, and is slow to drain. Following a heavy rain event, the soil has a maximum amount it can hold. After it reaches the max, the water pools on top of the soil, which causes flooding.
With increased development comes increased amount of impervious surfaces (roads, parking lots, concrete, roofs). Impervious surfaces cannot soak up stormwater. The water just runs right off of it. So, with an increased amount of impervious surfaces from development, we're seeing more flooding. Plus, the amount of precipitation has increased in recent years - check out the graphic below.
Flooding can be a nuisance and even dangerous when it is severe, but in the moment, time is needed to let the water soak into the ground, sometimes even days. However, there are some things we can do to reduce and prevent future flooding.
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How to Reduce Flooding: Soak It In! |
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There is no easy, immediate fix unfortunately. However, there are several ways we can try to reduce flooding. All of these work in some way or another to capture and soak stormwater back into the ground.
- Install a rain garden. While rain gardens won't solve the problem of poorly draining soil, they CAN help to soak up water faster and better than regular old turfgrass or flower beds.
- Replace unused pavement or turfgrass with native plants or a rain garden. Native plants have strong, deep roots that are great at capturing and soaking in stormwater - better than non-native plants or turfgrass. Plus, it will save you some time, effort, and money on mowing, and it adds a nice landscaping feature.
- Install vegetative buffers along streams. Don't mow all the way to the edge of a stream. A vegetative buffer is fantastic at capturing and soaking in water. Plus, buffers help hold the soil in place, thereby preventing erosion. Bonus - use native plants and trees to provide habitat and food for native wildlife and pollinators.
- Utilize a rain barrel. Capture some of the rainwater coming off your roof and use it to water your lawn or gardens.
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Community Backyards Rebate Program |
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If you want to learn more about backyard conservation, native plants, rain gardens, and rain barrels, please check out our Community Backyards rebate program. We have lots of workshops coming up soon, and the online course is open.
Franklin County residents can participate in a workshop or the online course (you only need to do one or the other - not both), and receive a voucher for a rebate on a rain barrel, compost bin, or native plants and trees. Learn more and participate at CommunityBackyards.org.
Don't live in Franklin County? Check with your local county's soil and water district for programs available to you!
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Have you experienced flooding where you live?
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Get the Scoop from Nature Scoop
Want to learn more about backyard conservation, pollinators, and more? Read the latest edition of the monthly newsletter Nature Scoop by Toni Stahl, National Wildlife Federation Habitat Ambassador.
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Mikaela Mohr
Outreach Program Specialist
Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District
1404 Goodale Blvd. Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43212
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