An increase in development and urban sprawl has created a need to develop more wildlife-friendly landscapes. All wildlife need food, shelter (cover), water, and space to survive. A rain garden can fulfill some of those needs by providing habitat typically lacking in an urban or backyard environment. A rain garden is a landscaped depression designed to capture stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces such as roofs and roads and runoff from compacted turfgrass. See HGIC Factsheet 1864:Rain Garden Plants: Introduction for additional information on rain gardens.