The water feature in front of the Administration Building came alive with pollinators following the addition of hundreds of native plants. Volunteers with the Benton County Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, and Arkansas Conservation Corps, alongside BWD staff replaced non-native vegetation with native forbs, grasses, and shrubs to reduce water use at the Administration Building while creating a blooming outdoor classroom. The project serves as a demonstration garden to coincide with BWD’s water conservation program called “Beaver Believers.”
Native plants offer many benefits to yards, including:
- Less water usage & maintenance
- Habitat for wildlife
- Soil health and erosion control
The demonstration garden highlights how homeowners and businesses can incorporate native plants to conserve water, improve soil health, and support wildlife. As Northwest Arkansas continues to grow, projects like this will help protect water quality and quantity while restoring habitats that give pollinators a chance to thrive for generations to come.
Visit the blog entitled “Water-Wise Landscaping” for a deeper dive into incorporating native plants into landscaping and saving money on water bills. Want to see things firsthand? Schedule a visit to tour the garden and learn how drinking water is cleaned and made safe for over 400,000 residents of Northwest Arkansas.