Let LRNow help you “green” your Lynnhaven watershed home with its Pearl Yard -(aka Sustainable Yard)- Program. This unique program provides specific stormwater management practices to your yard at a significantly reduced cost to you.

In return, you as the homeowner must commit to implementing or maintaining the practice for a defined amount of time.

If you are interested in this program, first check your WATERSHED. If you are in the Lynnhaven Watershed, COMPLETE THIS SURVEY to be considered for this program. Your survey will be reviewed and a site visit scheduled if your property is eligible. A site visit does not guarantee the installation of a practice.

The Pearl Yard Program can provide one of the following practices to qualifying homes in the Lynnhaven watershed:

• Rain barrel
• Rain garden
• Infiltration trench
• Conservation landscape

Only one practice or feature can be implemented per residence in the program’s contract period. Each stormwater feature is available at a significant cost reduction to the homeowner.

130-gallon Rain Barrel, professionally installed

Homeowner’s copay $100 

Rain Barrels capture rain water which can be used to water your vegetation and reduce your water bills. Municipal water contains ammonia, fluoride, and chlorine which is hard on plant growth. Your gardens and vegetation will thrive using harvested rainwater. This tool also helps protect our watersheds from runoff pollution.

Many of our LR watershed homeowners have received 125 gallon rain barrels through our Sustainable Yards program.  This video answers a frequently asked question about rain barrel maintenance.  One of the features of the rain barrel is a small screen on the emergency outfall that is intended to keep mosquitos out of the barrel.  This screen may need to be cleaned occasionally, especially after a very heavy rain storm.  This video below shows the correct and easy way to clean out the small screen. 

Rain Garden

Homeowner’s copay $100

A Rain Garden is a bowl-shaped garden with deep, loose amended soil. The excess water on your lawn or water that flows off impervious surfaces can be directed into the garden and help to recharge groundwater. This reduces the quantity and improves the quality of stormwater runoff. This is also a great way to create a natural habitat for birds, insects, and other species.

A plan & quote are provided to the homeowner before a contractual agreement is reached.

Infiltration Trench

Homeowner’s Copay $100

A gravel-filled trench that stores runoff temporarily until it seeps into the ground through the bottom of the trench. These practices do not necessarily incorporate vegetation into their design. Instead, they rely on natural soils to absorb runoff and filter pollutants.

A plan & quote are provided to the homeowner before a contractual agreement is reached.

This program is open to single family homes in the Lynnhaven watershed. Rental properties are not eligible unless initiated and contracted by the homeowner. Multi-family units are not eligible for this program.

We appreciate the assistance of our landscape and lawn care experts and our volunteers for helping to plan, design and install these projects and we are grateful to the City of Virginia Beach for providing funding for this important program.

Questions? e-mail Pearlyard@lrnow.org