Stormwater Resources for Homeowners

1. NEIGHBORHOOD VISITS AND RESOURCES

Presentations for and visits to neighborhoods

The City of Bloomington Utilities offers a number of ways to work with stormwater.  We are in the process of bringing back and updating our neighborhood visits program for the first time since the pandemic began.  The effort will include presentations for and visits to neighborhoods.

The intent is to improve the quality and quantity of stormwater while sustainably managing drainage and erosion concerns.

Credit: Tenth Acre Farm

Please contact us at [email protected] if you would like more information.

Interested in neighborhood improvement, in general?  Check out the City of Bloomington Housing and Neighborhood Development website.

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2. STORMWATER RESOURCES/EDUCATION SERIES

We hear you! An educational series, bringing together expertise from various departments and community organizations, is in the works for residents, homeowners, neighborhood associations, and homeowner associations based upon observations derived by stormwater concerns expressed through the Residential Stormwater Grants program and more.  The program includes expertise from related City departments and community organizations in a "one-stop-shopping" format.  Our intent is to provide proactive, positive and productive education on stormwater to limit its negative impacts on land and the built environment (of particular importance as our climate changes) to help with quality of life aspects. 

The evolving series consists of resources, short videos, presentations, and more.

Resources

• Local!  Switchyard Park Field Guide - Green infrastructure and native plants in action
• Local!  Switchyard Park Landscaping Plant Field Guide
• Local!  Monroe County Stormwater's Rain Garden Page - Rain garden information
• Local!  Monroe County Rain Garden Starter Guide - Great ideas for starting a rain garden!
• Local! Indiana University - Environmental Resilience Institute - Preparing for our changing climate and more
• Local!  Purdue University - Climate Change Research Center - Preparing for our changing climate and more
• Local!  Indianapolis area and beyond. White River Alliance, Stormwater Landscape Maintenance Training for HOAs.
• Local!  City of Bloomington Stormwater Related Ordinances
• Local! City of Bloomington Stormwater Fee rate Information
• Local!  Monroe County Organizations Active in Disaster - Tips on preparing your home for heavy rainfall, how to get involved and more
• Climate Psychology Alliance of North America
• Shades of Green Permaculture - Working permaculture concepts into your design
• Rainscaping - Missouri Botanical Gardens - A great resource for landscaping while keeping rain in mind
• Rain Garden Alliance
• Grass Swales - Virginia Cooperative Extension
• Vegetated Swales - Dauphin County Conservation District
• Swale Fact Sheet - Sussex Conservation District
• Grass Drainage Swale - Hartford County Government
• Homeowners Guide to Stormwater - An overview of stormwater management for homeowners (although written for a different area, it contains good information that can be inferred for Bloomington)
• Watch this video from the Indiana Association for Floodplain and Stormwater Management - Pond Maintenance Tips
• Watch this video, "What can I do with all these leaves?!?", read this brochure, and visit the city's "leafing" home page - What to do with all those leaves?
• Stormwater Ponds:  Inspection and Maintenance Considerations - Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center
• Pools and Other Water Features Brochure - Information on how to drain pools and other water features
• Pools and Other Water Features Poster - Information on how to drain pools and other water features
• Stormwater Utility Credit Manual

Background education titles include (slideshow):

1. Watersheds and Weather