
Ocean Friendly Gardens
A Natural Solution for Stormwater Pollution
The Ocean Friendly Gardens (OFG) is the Surfrider Foundation’s sustainable landscaping and education program that provides beautiful, inexpensive and natural solutions to reduce polluted runoff and to support resilient coasts. In addition to providing valuable information to property owners on how landscapes and hardscapes can prevent water pollution, Surfrider chapters are using this program to encourage landscape professionals to incorporate the program’s principles into their business practices. Chapters also use the program to motivate local governments to support OFG-oriented policy changes for existing and new development.
Slow the Flow
OFG standards use a nature-based approach everywhere possible: contouring landscapes for rainwater retention; creating living soil to sponge up water, filtering pollution, sequestering carbon; and installing climate-appropriate & native plants to create wildlife habitat and a sense of place.

Water runoff is the #1 source of ocean pollution in urban areas

Preventing Pollution
By maintaining green spaces with less fertilizer and capturing runoff, Ocean Friendly Gardens can help prevent harmful algal blooms and filter water pollution before it reaches our waterways and groundwater. As climate change increases the intensity and frequency of harmful algal bloom events, it is more urgent than ever to reduce nutrient pollution from our landscapes.
Growing good
The Eastern Long Island chapter's Methodist Lane bioswale captures rainwater & runoff while adding native habitat and beauty to the community. Help steward this and other OFG projects by volunteering with the ELI chapter.

Resources
Create Healthy Soils and Protect Clean Water
Get Involved
Building Habitat with Native Plants
- Peconic-Friendly Plant Database
- Long Island Native Plant Initiative Native Plant Resources Guide
- NY Botanic Garden's Rain Garden Plant Guide
- Native Plants for Long Island Rain Gardens
- Learn about native plants on Beachapedia
Remove, Reduce, or Sustain your Lawn
- Peconic Estuary Partnership Lawn & Pavement Removal Rebate
Retain Rainwater
- Peconic Estuary's Rain Barrel Rebate
- What is a rain garden?
- How to reroute your downspout