Oakland County’s RainSmart Rebates pilot program concluded after two years, aiming to reduce stormwater overflow and manage an estimated 1.4 million gallons annually. The program focused on encouraging homeowners in the George W. Kuhn Drain Drainage District to install rain barrels, native trees, and rain gardens, according to Fox 2 Detroit.
Under Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash, participation grew 22% in the program’s second year, showing increased community engagement in sustainability. In the past year alone, homeowners added 379 rain barrels, 199 native trees, and 105 rain gardens, providing both local beautification and functional stormwater management.
Commissioner Nash said, "By supporting homeowners with practical solutions at the neighborhood level, we’ve demonstrated how residential projects can become part of a broader stormwater management solution with lasting benefits." The program installs eco-friendly solutions to reduce pressure on Metro Detroit’s combined sewer systems, and participants called it "well-organized, and inspiring," as reported by the OakGov.
