Long Island property owners have a unique opportunity to play a role in reducing stormwater runoff, a primary contributor to nitrogen pollution in local waterways, through the annual Garden Rewards Program. This initiative offers financial reimbursement of up to $500 for implementing eco-friendly solutions such as rain barrels, native plantings, and rain gardens. Property owners in Suffolk and Nassau County, New York are eligible.
Now in its third year, the program is a collaborative effort between NEIWPCC, the Long Island Sound Study (LISS), the Long Island Regional Planning Council (LIRPC), and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC).
“The quality of our surface waters, and of our drinking water beneath us, is threatened by excess nitrogen pollution created by stormwater runoff,” stated John Cameron, LIRPC chairman. “While municipalities on every level are addressing stormwater runoff and nitrogen pollution, Garden Rewards is a way to encourage homeowners to become a part of the solution.”
Excess nitrogen can lead to low oxygen conditions, fish kills, harmful algal blooms, and degraded wetlands and marine habitats. Nitrogen also contaminates the groundwater, which is the sole source of Long Island’s drinking water supply.
“NEIWPCC is pleased to partner with the NYSDEC, LIRPC and LISS to distribute reimbursements for residents reducing runoff, conserving rainwater and promoting water quality improvements across Long Island,” said Susan Sullivan, NEIWPCC executive director.
The Long Island Garden Rewards Program offers eligible property owners an incentive to create and install yard features that retain stormwater. Capturing rainwater and keeping it on your lawn with rain barrels and rain gardens, or by slowing down runoff with native plant gardens, reduces the amount of water flowing across your yard. These actions decrease the level of nitrogen pollution entering local waterways and help conserve water.
For more information about the Long Island Garden Rewards Program, eligibility, and how to apply, visit the project webpage.