Blue Neighborhoods

The City of Norman is excited to announce a new pilot project called "Blue Neighborhoods". This project is designed to encourage and incentivize the use of a variety of "blue" home and lawn care practices. "Blue" practices are those that help improve stormwater quality and reduce the amounts of pollutants, like sediment and fertilizer, which make it into our rivers and lakes. For the 2023 pilot project, we will be focusing on the following practices:

1.   Conserving water. Rain barrels and cisterns can be used collect rainwater which can be used for irrigation purposes throughout the summer. This reduces water usage, saves you money on water bills, and helps reduce wear and tear at the water treatment plant.

2.   Improving soil health. Top-dressing your lawn with compost, in lieu of traditional fertilizers, is a great way to incorporate "blue" practices into your lawn care regime. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, compost improves the health of your soil, retains moisture and nutrients, and reduces the need for pesticides and fertilizers.

3.   Providing habitat. Rain gardens and pollinator pockets provide important habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. Rain gardens have the added benefit of improving water quality by providing a shallow depression where stormwater can infiltrate into the soil instead of flowing downstream. This reduces the amount of pollutants going into Lake Thunderbird and reduces downstream flooding.

The 2023 pilot project will only be available to City of Norman residents who live in a 1 square mile area between E. Tecumseh Road and E. Rock Creek Road and between N. Porter Ave. and 12th Ave NE. In order to better serve your neighborhood, we are requesting your feedback on participation and anticipated costs. We have developed a brief survey which will take 5-10 minutes to complete; the results of this survey will help us determine the best way to allocate our funding and staff resources. You can find the survey enclosed or by scanning the QR code below. If you would like more information about the project, please visit: bit.ly/BlueNeighborhoods. Please complete the survey by June 30, 2023. We look forward to hearing from you.

Indicates required field
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Are you the homeowner?
Is this your primary place of residence?

Rain Barrel

A rain barrel is a 50-gallon, plastic barrel that can be used to collect rainwater for later use. Have you heard of a rain barrel before?
Have you ever used a rain barrel before?
Would you be interested in using a rain barrel at your home?
What is the most you would be willing to invest for a fully installed 50-gallon rain barrel?

Rainwater Cistern

Similar to a rain barrel, but on a larger scale, rainwater cisterns can range from hundreds to thousands of gallons. Have you heard of a rainwater cistern before?
Have you ever used a rainwater cistern?
Would you be interested in using a rainwater cistern at your home?
What is the most you would be willing to invest for a fully installed 250-gallon rainwater cistern?

Compost Top-Dressing

Do you currently apply fertilizer to your lawn?
Compost top-dressing is an alternative to synthetic fertilizers which involves spreading a thin layer of compost (1/4-1/2 inch) over existing turf grass. It can help improve soil health and water retention, which in turn reduces the need for irrigation. Have you heard of compost top-dressing before?
Have you ever top-dressed your lawn with compost before?
Would you be interested in top-dressing your lawn at home?
If yes, how large is the area (square feet)?
How much would you be willing to invest in compost top-dressing?

Rain Garden

A rain garden is a shallow depression where stormwater can infiltrate into the soil instead of running into the street or storm sewer system. Have you heard of a rain garden before?
Have you ever had a rain garden before?
Would you be interested in planting a rain garden at your home?
If yes, how large of an area (square feet)
How much would you be willing to invest in a 25 square foot rain garden, including plants?

Pollinator Pocket

A pollinator pocket is a garden specifically designed for pollinators and includes a variety of native plants that bloom throughout the year to provide food and shelter for pollinators. Have you heard of a pollinator pocket before?
Have you ever had a pollinator pocket before?
Would you be interested in planting a pollinator pocket at your home?
If yes, how large of an area (square feet)?
How much would you be willing to invest in a 25 square foot pollinator pocket, including plants?