Download Contact: Courtney Thomas, Outreach Coordinator, Beaver

Contact:
Courtney Thomas, Outreach Coordinator, Beaver Watershed Alliance, 479-750-8007
[email protected]
Fast Facts:
 Rain Garden Academy set to take place Saturday, May 2nd at Hobbs State Park Visitor Center
 Academy will inform landowners and land-managers on functions and installation of rain
gardens and introduce mini-grants for garden installations in Beaver Lake Watershed
Rain Garden Academy to Provide Information and Financial Assistance for Rain Garden
Installations in Beaver Lake Watershed (312 words)
A workshop designed to assist landowners and land-managers with financial assistance and knowledge
for installing rain gardens on properties in the Beaver Lake Watershed will take place May 2nd. The Rain
Garden Academy, part of the Beaver Lake Watershed Rain Garden mini-grant program, is set for May 2nd
from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Hobbs State Park Visitor Center.
The workshop will help participants better understand rain garden functions, design considerations,
native plants, and cost-effective methods for installation. Existing rain gardens will be showcased and
participants will have an opportunity for hands-on garden maintenance. Financial assistance in the form
of mini-grants will be available for program attendees wishing to install gardens on residential
properties, businesses, and public places in the Beaver Lake Watershed.
Rain gardens capture and hold excess rain water runoff to help slow the flow of water discharged from
impervious surfaces during and after precipitation events, reducing water pollution and flooding, and
allowing groundwater recharge. Other benefits include aesthetics and wildlife habitat creation.
Space is limited for this free workshop and attendees are required to RSVP by contacting the Beaver
Watershed Alliance at [email protected] or (479) 750-8007.
The Beaver Lake Watershed Rain Garden mini-grant program aims to promote the installation of rain
gardens to maintain and improve water quality in the Beaver Lake Watershed. This program is carried
out by the Beaver Watershed Alliance with sponsorship from Beaver Water District as a continuation of
the Northwest Arkansas Rain Garden Project to install rain gardens to demonstrate benefits of this
alternative stormwater management approach.
The Beaver Watershed Alliance is a non-profit organization focused on maintaining high quality drinking
water in Beaver Lake and improving water quality within the Beaver Lake Watershed. For more
information about BWA, or how you can become involved in helping to protect water quality in Beaver
Lake and its watershed, visit www.beaverwatershedalliance.org or call 479.750.8007.
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