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The RiverSmart Maintenance Assistance Program assists property owners with the maintenance of their installed RiverSmart rain gardens and BayScapes.
The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay administers components of the District Department of Energy and Environment’s (DOEE) RiverSmart Homes program. The Maintenance Assistance Program offers support to RiverSmart participants through the Virtual Service Center.
As with all stormwater management practices, residential green infrastructure requires maintenance to keep them in good operating condition. Do you have a question about your RiverSmart rain garden or BayScape? No question is too big or small. Contact us to see how we can help.
Submit your questions to maintenance@allianceforthebay.org. Include as much detail as possible about the issue.
As you plan to expand your native garden beds, fill in gaps in your green infrastructure practices, or replace plants that have been damaged by storms, you can utilize our Native Plant Center to help you choose the right plant for the conditions in your yard. Native plants create crucial habitat for wildlife, filter stormwater, support clean air and water, and beautify our yards and communities.
Click on the button below to reach our Native Plant Center. Use the filter option to choose the soil, sun, and moisture conditions in your yard.
Go to The Native Plant Center
There are a number of dedicated native plant nurseries in the DC metropolitan area. Many native plant nurseries are small businesses with limited hours and not all have in-person shopping available. Please refer to each business’s website or contact them directly by phone or email to check availability and hours.
You can find out about annual community native plant sales through the Maryland Native Plant Society and the Virginia Native Plant Society. Community sales typically take place in early spring and fall. There are also a variety of neighborhood gardening and other local groups in the District that host native plant seed and seedling exchanges. Inquire at local community gardens, search social media, and talk to your neighbors who garden to find local events.
If you have questions or concerns about trees that were installed in your yard through RiverSmart, please contact Casey Trees at friends@caseytrees.org.
If you have questions or concerns about a street or city tree box tree in the District of Columbia, submit a request through 311 at https://311.dc.gov/citizen/s/ and the request will be forwarded to the District Department of Transportation’s Urban Forestry Division (DDOT).
If your inquiry cannot be addressed through the Virtual Service Center, you may be eligible for a free inspection by a Maintenance Assistance team member.
A limited number of free inspections are available for BayScapes and rain gardens only. During the inspection, a team member will evaluate your existing gardens and offer maintenance recommendations that can be completed as a do-it-yourself project or through a hired contractor. Please contact us to determine if you are eligible for a free inspection.
For additional maintenance assistance, see the Resources section below or get in touch with us directly: maintenance@allianceforthebay.org or (202) 670-9078
The RiverSmart Maintenance Program has developed a number of maintenance guides with instructions for garden and plant care. Check back regularly for updates to this information.
Whether you are replacing native plants in a rain garden or BayScape, it is important to have the right plant in the right place. Native plant lists are based on selections that have been successful in RiverSmart gardens and include information on the best plants for specific locations in your garden, bloom color and season, and the habitat provided by specific plants for birds, bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
If you need the help of a professional landscaper for on-site maintenance work, the Maintenance Assistance team has compiled a list of qualified maintenance contractors who are familiar with RiverSmart gardens. The RiverSmart Maintenance Assistance team is not directly involved with the delivery of on-site maintenance services; the list is simply another resource available to you through the program. Interested homeowners should contact these contractors directly to find out about pricing and availability. Typical maintenance work includes invasive weed removal, mulching, pruning, correcting rain garden issues, planting, thinning, and transplanting.
maintenance@allianceforthebay.org or (202) 670-9078
