Watershed Wednesday: Stormwater

Stormwater is rain or snowmelt that flows over impervious surfaces such as parking lots, roads, rooftops and driveways. Stormwater flows as surface runoff, and as it flows it picks up and carries any pollutants or sediments within its path. In urban areas, runoff enters our storm drain outlets which in turn end up in our local creeks and streams.

Stormwater runoff may carry fertilizers, pesticides, pet waste, road salts, trash debris, and automobile oil and grease into our waterways. Such introductions may lead to stream impairment, fish and wildlife habitat loss, nutrient loading, and contamination of water supplies.

What can we do in our daily lives?

• Pick up after our pets

• Never dump anything down storm drains or in ditches

• Check your car for leaking fluids and recycle motor oil

• Use fertilizers sparingly and sweep driveways and sidewalks after application

• Avoid pesticide use

• Vegetate bare spots in your yard and terrace slopes to minimize erosion

• Wash your car at a commercial car wash rather than in the street or in your driveway

• Maintain your septic system! Septic systems require regular inspections, maintenance and pumping. Leaky septic systems introduce nitrates and other pollutants in to our groundwater

Bigger picture:

• Replace part (or all!) of your lawn with native, drought-resistant plants. Improving plant growth will reduce stormwater runoff

• Volunteer with GWC or other organizations via vegetation plating events on streambanks, river clean ups, tree planting events, and other opportunities to address stormwater issues

• Support your local stormwater program - learn about city and county programs and regulations

• Protect and support your local wetlands. They mitigate flooding and aid in treating nutrients before they enter our waterways

• Consider permeable sidewalks and examine local growth and development (more impervious surfaces = more runoff)

• Educate yourself on your local floodplain regulations

• Educate yourself on stormwater pollution and how to address it - and then tell your friends!