Growing up we had neighbors that had a weekend business of sweeping up parking lots. They used a Zamboni like machine and drove around to a few lots vacuuming dust, dirt , trash, etc. up so the lots were clean. At the time I just thought it was about a cleaner looking parking lot. However, now that I am older I can see that they were doing a great service to the environment as well in that the pollution in our water was lessened. Here in Dallas, TX we have a city code that prohibits blowing yard debris into the storm drains. It provides fines up to $2000.00. I picked up a few of the brochure the city has to hand out to neighbors, curious people that stop to ask what stream team is about when I am out doing water monitoring and to hand out to the Dallas Down River Club.
When I was driving away from the Storm Water office this morning I saw two lawn crews out blowing the leaves, and grass clippings right into the main street I was driving on.
When we had adequate wetlands to help act as a buffer for this debris and the countryside was not paved over, the landscape could handle this stuff. But as we push it away from our homes and businesses, we are creating problems for many of our nations water ways. Please limit your contribution to this problem. Compost your yard waste, have it picked up by your local municipalities where available, but don’t let it just add to a excessive about of nutrients in the local watershed.
