The third year of the Long Island (New York) Garden Rewards Program provided more than 170 property owners with reimbursements to help offset the cost of stormwater runoff mitigation projects. The program is a partnership between NEIWPCC, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Long Island Regional Planning Council (LIRPC), and the Long Island Sound Partnership (LIS Partnership).
The program offers eligible participants up to $500 toward the expense of installing rain barrels, rain gardens and native plant gardens. All three of these actions retain stormwater on a property – keeping Long Island’s leading cause of water pollution, nitrogen, out of waterbodies. Excess nitrogen can cause toxic algal blooms that lead to low oxygen conditions, fish kills, and degraded wetlands and marine habitats. Nitrogen also contaminates groundwater, which is the sole source of Long Island’s drinking water.
Rain barrels collect and store rainwater that runs off a roof, which may otherwise contribute to stormwater runoff. The collected water can be used for gardens and yards, helping to conserve and reduce the amount leaving the property.
Similarly, rain gardens collect rainwater from roofs – or other hard surfaces – in a shallow depression. This allows the rain to soak into the ground where it can be naturally filtered. Long Island Garden Rewards Program participant, Lucas Argyros, who has been working to incorporate water-friendly practices in his yard, said, “I have all my [roof] downspouts feeding various rain gardens across my half acre property. While I live with mostly clay [substrate] and on a slight slope, I have been improving runoff mitigation, while also only planting native plants”.
Native plants help gardeners reduce fertilizer and pesticide usage that contains nitrogen and other pollutants. They also promote a healthy ecosystem and are more compatible with local weather conditions, reducing water use and maintenance.
Over the course of three years, the program has funded the installation of 91 rain barrels, 17 rain gardens, and 495 native plantings to support water quality improvement efforts.
“The program provides a tangible way for property owners to take action to protect their local waterways and groundwater,” said NEIWPCC Executive Director Susan Sullivan. “NEIWPCC is grateful for the continued collaboration of our partners to make this program possible.”
The program anticipates opening again in spring 2026; visit the Long Island Garden Rewards Program webpage for additional information.