Keep Our Rivers Clean this Fall
This story was featured in the Northfield News, Faribault Daily News, Owatonna People’s Press, and Londsdale News Review
As we enjoy the scents of pumpkin pie and apple cider, and the satisfying crunch of leaves beneath our feet, it's important to consider the impact of our actions. Have you ever thought about the potential uses for fallen leaves, or do you find yourself blowing them into the street? It's crucial to understand that leaf litter and other pollutants often end up in our waterways, causing significant harm to the environment.
We get our fair share of rain in the fall, and stormwater tends to pick up everything in its path on the way to the storm drain. Since stormwater feeds directly into the nearest river or lake, it’s no wonder we’re concerned about picking up leaves. Once they find their way into a body of water, bacteria and organisms break them down into a nutrient-rich soup that adds phosphorus. Phosphorus feeds the algae that creates the “green slime” you sometimes see in our rivers and lakes. Even just five bags of leaves contain about one pound of phosphorus, which can grow into 1,000 pounds of algae. Now THAT is spooky.
Now, you might be wondering how you can contribute to the solution. The good news is, there are a few simple steps you can take. Shredded leaves, a plentiful resource this season, can provide valuable nutrients to your garden soil. If you don’t have a garden, you can collect and deliver them to a municipal compost site. These sites are not just a convenient way to dispose of yard waste, but also a valuable community resource for those looking to enrich their garden soil!
However, leaf litter isn’t the only concern regarding storm drains. Often, items like oil, paint, antifreeze, fertilizers, and other pollutants drift into our waterways because they weren’t disposed of properly. If you’re working on a vehicle and something spills, clean it up immediately. Consider washing your vehicle on the lawn to keep the soap from washing down the storm drain, and look for phosphate- and chlorine-free soap. Check your city or county website for more information about the proper disposal of household chemicals in your community. If we each do a little, we can all do a lot to keep our rivers clean this fall!
