The NC Coastal Federation's Smart Yards program aims to reduce stormwater runoff and improve water quality in coastal areas through simple, do-it-yourself techniques. Smart Yards utilizes rain gardens, rain barrels, and other methods to capture and manage rainwater, preventing it from becoming polluted runoff. Living shorelines are also promoted as a way to combat erosion along the coast.
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What are Smart Yards?
- Smart Yards employ techniques like rain gardens, rain barrels, and other landscaping practices to manage stormwater runoff on residential properties.
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How do they work?
- Rain gardens and other features capture rainwater, allowing it to soak into the ground or be stored for later use, rather than flowing over impervious surfaces and into waterways.
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What are the benefits?
- Smart Yards and living shorelines help protect coastal water quality by reducing stormwater runoff, preventing erosion, and restoring natural habitats.
- Where can I learn more?
- The NC Coastal Federation provides resources and guidance on their website and through workshops and other events.
Feel free to review the NC Coastal Federation SMART YARDS guide for a more in-depth look at Smart Yard projects to reduce stormwater and improve the health of our coastal waters.!
Cost-Effective Stormwater Management Checklist
Below are a few methods that homeowners can utilize to help reduce flooding caused by stormwater during and after rain events. Please see the link below for a printable version of these recommendations.
- Redirect and Slow Runoff (Low to No Cost)
- Extend downspouts with flexible tubing to discharge water into your yard, not the road. Please be mindful to not flood your neighbor’s yard.
- Reposition gutters or downspouts so they drain toward gardens or grassy areas.
- Use rain chains or splash blocks to slow water leaving your roof.
- Rake small shallow channels (“swales”) in your yard to guide water away from pavement.
- Increase Water Absorption (Low Cost)
- Aerate your lawn annually with a manual or rented aerator to reduce soil compaction.
- Spread a layer of compost over bare spots to improve infiltration.
- Plant inexpensive groundcovers or grass seed in bare patches to prevent erosion.
- Use mulch (pine straw, shredded bark, or leaf litter) in planting beds to absorb water.
- Plant Strategically (Low Cost, Big Impact)
- Use native plants from local nurseries or plants to avoid costly irrigation.
- Group plants in low areas to create a mini rain garden without excavation.
- Keep at least a 3 to 5 ft vegetated strip between the road and your property edge.
- Maintain What You Have (Free to Maintain)
- Clear leaves and debris from ditches, culverts, and roadside drains monthly.
- Remove sediment build up in driveway edges where water should flow.
- Keep overgrown vegetation from blocking natural water paths.
- Reuse Rainwater (Low Cost)
- Install a rain barrel if allowed.
- Repurpose large containers (clean trash bins or food barrels) for water collection.
- Use stored rainwater for plants and lawns instead of letting it run into streets.
- Protect Low-Lying Areas (Minimal Cost)
- Use inexpensive sandbags or reusable flood barriers before major storms.
- Avoid filling in natural dips that hold water temporarily - they act as mini retention ponds