Building resilient communities through low-impact development practices

Traditional infrastructure in Oklahoma communities does not fully address the challenges flooding, erosion and declining water quality bring, especially in rural and residential areas where design and maintenance resources are limited. Landscape design plays a critical role in establishing water-resilient communities.  

The Designing with Water initiative, led by Oklahoma State University Extension’s Landscape Architecture program, promotes sustainable landscape practices through education, outreach and applied design. The program collaborates with county educators, Master Gardeners and local governments to help communities plan and implement rain gardens and rainwater harvesting systems to help manage runoff while making landscapes more visually appealing.  

In the past three years, 15 OSU Extension presentations on rainwater harvesting, rain gardens, and rain barrel placement have reached more than 500 homeowners, county educators, Master Gardeners and others around the state. Participants reported they became more confident in applying low-impact development design techniques. They also developed a deeper understanding of how landscape design can support flood mitigation and water quality and create a more visually appealing landscape. The City of Norman — one community partner — used program recommendations in landscape projects.  

The Designing with Water program gives Oklahoma residents the tools and knowledge to create sustainable environments that serve ecological purpose and reflect community character. Teaching communities how to apply low-impact development practices makes sustainable landscape design concepts easier to understand and apply, creating beautiful environments that protect natural resources and advance quality of life.

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service | Project supported by Smith-Lever (3b&c) capacity funds; state appropriations.