The Scott County Watershed Management Organization will help to fund rain gardens in the Prior Lake neighborhood of Brooksville Hills.

The city of Prior Lake requested funding for eight rain gardens to be constructed along with a road reconstruction project this year.

The rain gardens will cost an estimated $16,000 with 80 percent paid for by the watershed district and the rest by the city.

The city will construct the gardens, and the landowners will be responsible for maintaining them.

A rain garden is a low area planted with native vegetation that intercepts storm water runoff. The garden traps rainwater and melted snow, allowing it to infiltrate the soil instead of running over impervious surfaces.

The watershed organization has $100,000 budgeted for innovative practices like rain gardens in 2008.

– Shannon Fiecke