Did you know that yard debris, including leaves and other organic plant material like shrubbery trimmings and grass clippings are a significant source of stormwater pollution? This debris can clog culverts, storm drains, and pipes, causing flooding. Debris can also carry fertilizers and pesticides from your yard and deposit them in streams and ponds. Piles of leaves and grass clippings will overload a stream's ability to process leaf litter, causing nutrient pollution and oxygen depletion.

 

Tips for Fall Stormwater Management:

• Do not pile leaves or other yard waste near streams, ditches or other drainage channels where they can blow or wash into creeks.

• Do not blow leaves or grass clippings off your property into streets, streams, ponds, or drainage swales.

• Mulch your leaves into your yard, or pile them in your garden areas. They will add nutrients back into your lawn and provide shelter for wildlife during the winter months.

• Consider rain barrels at downspouts to capture runoff, reducing the volume entering storm drains.

• Plant native trees or shrubs. Trees and shrubs provide vital habitat for wildlife and absorb more stormwater than your lawn does.

 

Posted 09-23-2026