The Pollution Solution Right Outside Your Front Door

What if we could turn our sidewalk gardens, the small space between the sidewalk and the street, into powerful forms of green infrastructure right outside our front doors? What might look like a small patch of soil has the potential to do a lot of heavy lifting: capturing stormwater before it floods into stormwater drains, filtering pollutants, cooling our neighborhoods with shade trees and vegetation, and creating pockets of habitat for pollinators and urban wildlife. Through our Harvest the Rain Program, we’re excited to pilot the transformation of these spaces across Petaluma, turning underutilized strips into vibrant, living systems that manage water, support biodiversity, and invite our neighbors into a closer relationship with the natural world.

REDUCING FLOOD RISK IN THREE TRIBUTARIES

To support those most at risk of climate-induced flooding and related issues, this project will address residential flooding in Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) in three tributaries in Petaluma by piloting cost-effective green stormwater projects and reducing barriers for implementation.

This project expands upon our Land Resilience Partnership (LRP) Program, adding tools to capture stormwater runoff and pollution to reduce flooding and improve water quality in our local waterways.

Working with the City, Sherwood Design Engineers, project partners and flood-impacted residents, Daily Acts will conduct outreach and education, install 5 – 7 residential pilot projects, and create template and permit processes to support scaling these practices. Input from this pilot will be used to inform the City Stormwater Master Plan.

Data Sources: Department of Water Resources DAC and EDA Mapping Tools; City of Petaluma Zoning Map

HARVEST THE RAIN PROJECT TYPES

Below, read through the types of projects we plan to incorporate in our DIY Design Templates and Pilot Projects:

Curb Core/Cut

Curb cuts are a simple yet powerful strategy for harvesting stormwater. By creating small openings in street curbs, they allow rainwater that would otherwise be headed for the stormwater drain flow into adjacent landscaped areas, where it can soak into the ground. Once full, any excess water simply continues along to the stormwater drain. Read more in Curb Cuts 101.

Rain Gardens

The addition of rain gardens and swales in your landscape offers two simple ways to increase stormwater capture and recharge our aquifers. These strategically designed low depressions and channels create holding places for water to collect and sink rather than run off over heavily saturated soils or impermeable surfaces. Click here to read the Rain Gardens Guide.

Sidewalk Rain Garden

Just like a standard rain garden or swale, sidewalk rain gardens reduce runoff volumes allowing water to seep into the soil, absorbing runoff from sidewalks (and runoff from streets too if you install a curb cut). They are usually smaller, designed to fit within existing infrastructure between the sidewalk and the street.