This restores balance in the water cycle, replenishes groundwater, reduces flooding, and protects water quality.

It is estimated that only about 10% of the precipitation that falls on a forest leaves as surface runoff. The rest either evaporates or soaks into the ground where it becomes groundwater. Groundwater slowly discharges to surface waters, providing a certain amount of base flow. This is why large surface water bodies do not go completely dry during periods of little to no rain.

As watersheds become developed, urbanization and an increase in paved surface areas such as parking lots, driveways and rooftops will change the water flow in the environment. More and more precipitation “runs off,” traveling quickly to surface water bodies, which results in:

Overall reduction in groundwater recharge
Long-term lowering of groundwater tables and loss of stream flow during dry weather
Increased erosion of stream banks
Increased water quality impacts caused by pollutants associated with urban runoff
Flooding—especially more frequent “flash” flooding

To reduce the amount of surface runoff leaving your yard:

Use vegetative plantings, mulch, or crushed stone to create buffers and borders along buildings, driveways and streets to capture rainfall and settle and filter surface runoff.
Maintain natural vegetation or shoreland buffers around surface water edges and wetlands. Consider limiting the areas that are maintained for access and view where possible.
If you have natural woodlands on your property, consider leaving them intact where possible. Refer to the Information Sheet Choose the Right Plant for the Right Spot for more ideas on landscaping with woodlands.
Consider installing rain gardens to control and settle roof and other surface runoff within your yard.
Limit the amount of paved surfaces in your yard and consider using permeable paving materials for driveways, patios, and walkways.
Use rain barrels or cisterns to collect and store rainwater during the growing season for watering plants.

For more information about reducing stormwater runoff and increasing groundwater recharge

Healthy Landscapes Information Sheet:
Rain Gardens--enhancing your home landscape and protecting water quality

URI CE Home*A*Syst Program factsheets:

Home Landscape Improvements for Water Quality Protection

Shoreland Buffers and Water Quality Protection

What You Can Do About Nonpoint Source Pollution

URI CE Home*A*Syst Program and the Southern New England Forest Consortium, Inc. -- Today's Forest, Tomorrow's Legacy: A Guide for Small Acreage Woodland Owners

For more information on rain barrels see our Healthy Landscapes Information Sheets

Rain Barrels
How to Build and Install a Rain Barrel

Information about Cisterns

URI Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (URI CE Water Quality Program) -- visit their publication page and look for their pervious pavement series.

UConn NEMO page on reducing runoff

The Center for Watershed Protection
or call (410) 461-8323
Information on rain gardens, rain barrels and watershed protection