Area residents can get a firsthand look at conservation techniques to promote native plants, protect shorelines and improve water quality in upcoming weeks.
On May 17, from 7 ? 9 p.m. at St. Daniel Church’s Cushing Center, Stewardship Director Tracie Beasley of the Clinton River Watershed Council leads a workshop hosted by the City of Clarkston. Residents can learn how to install rain gardens, the advantages of such a project and how the city of Clarkston is using a grant from the Oakland Native Partnership Initiative (ONPI) to install a rain garden.
The rain garden in Depot Park is meant to collect and filter water from the city parking lot, prevent erosion and reintroduce Michigan native plants to the park.
‘It’s really geared towards the educational so people understand what a rain garden is and how you build it. It’ll help us in the project and those interested in putting one in their backyard or where appropriate,? said Clarkston City Council Member James Brueck.
The City of the Village of Clarkston and the Village of Ortonville both received $750 grants from ONPI this spring.
‘We are thrilled that both of these groups that received the grant money are using native plants and dealing with storm water,? said Beasley.
‘It’s exciting because in North Oakland County there are not a lot of projects like this. These are nice examples in the area that you can tell everyone about.?
Following the workshop on May 17, the rain garden will be installed in Depot Park on June 10 during River Day. The work starts at 9 a.m.
There is no registration required for the free May 17 workshop. For more info, call the Clinton River Watershed Council at 248-601-0606. St. Daniel Catholic Church is located at 7010 Valley Park Drive.