Environment
Onalaska’s Clearwater Farm honored for creative stormwater management
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WIZM) — Transforming a boggy area into a rain garden has earned Onalaska’s Clearwater Farm the 2024 Soak It Up! Award from the local environmental group, La Crosse Area Waters.
Clearwater Farm will receive the award Wednesday at the educational farm.
La Crosse Area Waters presents yearly awards to people, organizations and municipalities that come up with ways to maintain or improve water quality through sustainable landscaping practices.
In this instance, Clearwater workers took an old, small apple orchard on the property that was getting damaged through increased stormwater runoff, and created a rain garden full of plants suited for wetter environments.
It also did landscaping to better direct stormwater into areas where it won’t affect users.
“By reclaiming this space, we have created an educational opportunity that aligns with our mission to advocate for the sustainable use of natural resources,” Clearwater Farm volunteer, Alex Boecher said. “We hope our efforts will inspire others to implement similar projects in their own communities.”
