Rake for the Sake of our Lakes and Streams

Rake for the Sake of our Lakes and Streams

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Submitted by Barbara J. Huberty, from the City of Rochester, Public Works Department.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008

PLEASE KEEP YOUR LEAVES OUT OF THE STREET

Autumn’s falling leaves are not welcomed by their aquatic neighbors. If they fall or are raked onto the street, storm sewers will carry them to our lakes and streams. When leaves decompose in water, the nutrient phosphorus is released, promoting the growth of unwanted algae. Decomposition also steals oxygen from the water, impacting animal life.

In natural settings, phosphorus in fallen leaves is recycled back into the soil. But this recycling system is bypassed in urban areas that connect hard surfaces to storm sewers. Even when residents live blocks away from a lake or river, the runoff from their yard and street eventually reaches local water bodies. Keeping streets clean is one key to keeping our water clean.

Rochester residents are asked to please keep their leaves out of the streets and off public lands, as required by law. In addition to degrading water quality, leaves can be a traffic hazard and they can cause flooding if they obstruct drainage ways or plug culverts, storm drains, or inlets and outlets to storm ponds.

Some cities that own special vacuum trucks direct residents to place their leaves in the street at a designated time for collection. The City of Rochester does not have that type of program or equipment. The City’s street sweeping machines are designed to collect the smaller proportion of leaves that fall from trees into the street, however, they are not able to effectively sweep large piles placed in the street.

Residents can help “keep it clean” by taking these steps to protect water quality:

  • Keep leaves out of the street and storm drains and never dump leaves in drainage ways, wetlands, or water.
  • Mulch leaves in the yard or make a backyard compost site for them.
  • Instead of backyard leaf management, residents can take leaves to the Olmsted County compost site (located at 305 Silver Creek Road NW, just across from the Recycling Center). In the fall, the compost site is open every day during daylight hours. Private waste haulers can be contacted to learn if they transport collected leaves to the compost site.