Fallen leaves that are left in the streets can hurt our lakes, animals, and people!
When rain falls on leaf piles in the street, it creates "leaf tea" that drains into the storm drains. The storm drains lead to our area lakes, rivers, and streams. Leaf tea contains harmful chemicals like phosphorus.
Too much phosphorus can lead to toxic algae blooms, low oxygen levels, lake weeds, and green murky waters. This is bad for animals who live in the water and for people who use it for recreation.
More than 50% of the phosphorus in urban storm water can come from leaves in the street!
Timely removal of street leaf litter in the fall can reduce the amount of phosphorus in urban storm water by 80%! The City needs residents to help get the leaves off the streets before each rain.
Join us in keeping streets leaf-free!
1. Keep leaves out of the street by raking along the curb and placing on the terrace.
2. Sign up for rainstorm alerts from Ripple Effects to learn when to rake the street gutter.
3. Leave the leaf : Mulch them into the yard where they fall.
4. Compost yard waste instead of setting it out to the curb.
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