Regional Stormwater Summit touts rebates for residents
OAKLAND COUNTY — On Oct. 20, more than 200 people gathered for the 10th annual Regional Stormwater Summit to hear from experts and learn about a rebate program designed to encourage residents to reduce stormwater runoff on their own property.
Published October 24, 2023
RainSmart Rebates is a program designed to promote “environmental stewardship and help homeowners manage stormwater.” Residential homeowners in the George W. Kuhn Drainage District who implement green stormwater infrastructure practices such as installing a rain garden, rain barrels and planting trees are eligible for a one-time $2,000 rebate.
The George W. Kuhn Drainage District includes all or part of Berkley, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Clawson, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Madison Heights, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak, Royal Oak Township, Southfield and Troy.
The county has allocated $200,000 on a first-come, first-served basis starting Jan. 1, 2024, through 2025 for the RainSmart Rebate program. Rain gardens will receive a rebate of $6 per square foot. Rain barrels will receive $125 maximum, two per property. Trees can earn $250, maximum of two per property. +The rebate ceiling is $2,000 per property, allowing residents to mix and match their stormwater projects.
To apply, eligible homeowners can visit oakgov.com, search for “RainSmart Rebates” and complete an application. Once they’ve been verified as the property owner, a mandatory site assessment, which costs $25, will be conducted. Following the site assessment, the homeowner can install their stormwater projects; 20% of the rebate budget will be reserved to assist homeowners unable to financially or physically install their projects. The next step is for homeowners to fill out a rebate request with receipts and photos. The final step is for the homeowner to receive their rebate.
Birmingham, Oak Park, Royal Oak and Southfield are pilot partners for the RainSmart Rebate program. Despite the fact that only Southfield residents within the George W. Kuhn Drainage District will be eligible, Southfield Stormwater Manager Brandy Siedlaczek is still eager to see more residents implement these green infrastructures. “The county decided to do this program, so we could do it at a residential, local level, and try to get more people involved in being part of the solution to water quality and the flooding issues we’ve had.”
Siedlaczek explained that Southfield has a number of green infrastructure projects throughout the city on a municipal level, such as the bioswales at Beech Woods, Carpenter Lake and Inglenook parks, the bio-retention pond at Evergreen Road, and a tiered structure meant to retain stormwater at Valley Woods Trailhead. She explained that Southfield residents can anticipate more green infrastructure projects in Southfield, with more bioswales and rain gardens expected by the spring of next year.
For more information regarding the Regional Stormwater Summit, contact Alyssa Taube at TaubeA@oakgov.com.
