Here's how Vancouver's rain gardens are giving salmon a boost

Strategically placed rain gardens in the City of Vancouver can prevent flooding and reduce infrastructure costs. But the salmon are benefitting from these even more

Specially designed rain gardens can reduce toxic chemicals that are entering streams by more than 90 percent, a new research has found.

Researchers from the University of British Columbia say that if the chemicals have to pass through rain gardens first, they are absorbed in the garden's trees, plants, and soil, with only about five percent of it actually making its way into river streams.

Photos: 5 plants that are happy when it rains

As it stands now, 6PPD Quinone, a chemical in car tires, has been found to kill high amounts of coho salmon in very small quantities.

The researchers are working with the city to find the best places to build these rain gardens in hopes of protecting salmon populations.

Watch the video above to learn more about these specially designed rain gardens.

Thumbnail image courtesy: Brenda/submitted