As the weather cools and the days of splashing around on the lake fade away it’s easy to forget about the health of our waters. Preliminary results from a leaf management study led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) right here in Dane County suggest that fall is actually a critical time of year to take action.
According to USGS Hydrologist Bill Selbig, “In some areas, more than 50% of the annual amount of phosphorus in urban stormwater can come from leaves in the street.” When it rains, stormwater flows through leaf piles in streets creating a “leaf tea” that is rich in dissolved phosphorus. This "leaf tea" travels through storm sewers or other drainage systems making its way to our lakes, rivers and streams. Too much phosphorus can fuel toxic algae blooms that are harmful to people out enjoying the water and the animals living there.
In the fall, keeping leaf litter off of streets before it rains can reduce the amount of phosphorus in urban stormwater by 80% compared to no leaf removal!
Take action to keep streets leaf-free this fall! It’s easy! Before the rain…
- Safely remove leaves from the street in front of your home.
- Check your Community’s leaf collection guidelines or recycle leaves on your property by composting or mulching.
- Sign up to receive Leaf-free Streets Rain Alerts this fall (Oct. 1- Nov. 30). Alerts will be issued (via text or email) 1-2 days before a significant rain event reminding you that it's time to remove street leaves.
To learn more or to sign up for Leaf-free Streets Rain Alerts visit:
A few minutes before the storm can have Ripple Effects on our waters all year long!
