Planting a Rain Garden

In Partnership with Highline Adventures

Rain gardens collect, filter and absorb stormwater runoff. The gardens reduce non-point source pollution by filtering pollutants like fertilizers, pesticides or oil from lawns or impervious surfaces that would typically go directly into our streams and groundwater. Additionally, rain gardens can contribute to watershed health by reducing water consumption with the removal of sod, and providing food and shelter for pollinators by adding shrubs and grasses.

The Gallatin Watershed Council (GWC) partnered with Starry Night Lodging, previously called Highline Adventures, to install a rain garden onsite at the Baymont by Wyndham hotel. Starry Night Lodging is a Gallatin Watershed Business Steward that implements sustainable tourism practices and building a rain garden aligned with their environmental values as an organization.

GWC consulted the City of Bozeman Stormwater Division to determine where the best location would be on the property. A grassy swale was chosen due to the natural flow of water that drains into the area due to the gradient of the site and location of a storm drain at the swale. Additionally, it is located next to the hotel parking lot where stormwater will runoff pavement, and there are several gutters that drain into the depression. The area where the Baymont is located is highly urbanized and includes impaired segments on Bozeman Creek, Bridger Creek, Mandeville Creek, and the East Gallatin River. Impairments include total nitrogen, nitrate and nitrite, total phosphorus, E. coli, and sediment. 

After the design was determined for the area, shrubs and grasses were selected from the City of Bozeman Drought Tolerant Plant Guide and through input provided by Cashman Nursery. Some of these plants are native and drought tolerant which provide additional benefits in terms of resiliency, reducing runoff, and groundwater recharge. 

Shovels, rocks, shrubs and volunteers were gathered for the construction day. Sod was removed in a serpentine river channel design, shrubs and grasses were planted, and rocks shoveled to complete the rain garden. We love the finished product!

Collaborative parties for the rain garden included Starry Night Lodging (Highline Adventures), technical expertise from City of Bozeman Stormwater Division, and the Montana Association of Conservation Districts (MACD). 

This project was facilitated by the successful awarding of the MACD Water Quality Education and Outreach Mini-Grant to GWC. Mini-grants help fund local education and outreach efforts that address nonpoint source water quality issues. Funding for these mini-grants is made available through the Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s federally funded 319 program.