A rain garden is pictured. The Lake Superior Rain Garden Challenge is a green initiative that helps reverse the effects of stormwater and runoff and is an effort to get Marquette city residents mindful of what can pollute Lake Superior. The application process has been extended until Friday. (Photo courtesy of Superior Watershed Partnership)

MARQUETTE — There’s still time to get involved with an initiative that encourages Marquette city residents to create rain gardens in an effort to decrease stormwater and runoff that can pollute Lake Superior.

The Lake Superior Rain Garden Challenge, which is a collaboration between the Superior Watershed Partnership, the Community Foundation of Marquette County and other local groups, will reward three residential rain gardens with $2,000 and two commercial or institutional rain gardens with $3,000 each in the city of Marquette.

However, with cold spring weather and the COVID-19 pandemic, outdoor projects have been put on hold for some people, so the application deadline for the project has been extended until Friday.

“We’ve had just a few applications come in, but the applications that have come in have a lot of potential, and we anticipate some last-minute applications as well,” Community Foundation of Marquette County CEO Gail Anthony said. “We’ve all been a little distracted, understandably, processing the day-to-day news over the last several weeks. But perhaps this project can be a positive distraction that gives us hope for the future of our local ecosystems and waterways.”

The project is an important chance for area residents to make a difference for local water, as data shows the Marquette area will continue to receive more precipitation and more flooding in the region has occurred over the last few years, SWP biologist and project planner Abbie Hanson said.

Furthermore, rain gardens absorb and filter 30% more stormwater runoff than “equivalently sized areas of lawn turf,” Hanson said.

“These rain gardens will help capture this runoff before it reaches the lake and will simultaneously provide important habitat for resident and migratory birds and insects,” Hanson said. “Additionally, the rain gardens will provide attractive visual examples that others can replicate, thereby increasing the collective positive impact of the project.”

A group will look at the applications and determine whether the site requirements are met for a rain garden in terms of “impervious surface area treated by the rain garden, adherence to city codes for the types of plants selected — native plants are best — creativity and visibility of the site,” Anthony explained.

While not all applicants will receive funding, officials plan to provide constructive feedback with rain garden tips and suggestions to all applicants.

The challenge began with the Great Lakes One Water Partnership, where a number of private funders and the council of 27 Michigan foundations across the Great Lakes basin, organized six regional teams: Lake Superior/Upper Peninsula regional team, Lower Lake Michigan regional team, Upper Lake Michigan team, Lake Huron regional team, Lake Erie regional team and Lake Ontario regional team. The Lake Superior/Upper Peninsula regional team consists of Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation, Keweenaw Community Foundation, Community Foundation of Marquette County, M&M Area Community Foundation and Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula and Community Foundation for Delta County.

Each team has identified their area’s main water challenge and came up with individual projects to resolve those issues, Anthony said in a previous interview with The Mining Journal.

Funding of $12,000 per team came from the GLOW Partnership with support from the Great Lake Protection Fund, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation and Kresge Foundation, she noted.

“It’s been a fascinating conversation and learning opportunity for everyone involved. You really get a sense of how all of our water sources are connected from when it first rains to when that rainwater enters major waterways, including Lake Superior,” Anthony said. “The Superior Watershed Partnership has been such a great collaborator in developing this project. They are experts in our local watersheds and really understand what kinds of projects will be most impactful and beneficial for our community.”

Any interested parties are encouraged to apply, organizers said, as the project can give gardeners of all skill levels a chance to make a difference for Lake Superior.

“You don’t have to be an expert gardener or a master landscaper to apply — we really wanted this project to be accessible to anyone who has an interest in creating a rain garden,” Anthony said. “I think with all of what is going on right now in the world, it seems like planting a garden is a healthy diversion. I encourage people (to) get out and try something new by applying to build a natural filter that is good for Lake Superior. Who knows what you will discover?”

For more information and to view the full criteria for the challenge, visit superiorwatersheds.org/rain-garden-challenge or call 906-228-6095.

Jackie Jahfetson can be reached at jjahfetson@miningjournal.net.