Yard and Lawn Care, Fertilizers and Pesticides

Yard and gardening wastes are among the many common stormwater pollutants that can degrade water quality. Stormwater runoff from yard maintenance has been found to contain high concentrations of organic wastes, fertilizers, pesticides, and soil that can leave your property. When these materials wash into local waters they poison fish and contaminate the water. Grass clippings, leaves, and tree trimmings swept or blown into streets and gutters carry chemicals into our waterways and can clog the storm drain system, increasing the risk of flooding. Once they settle into water bodies, these materials begin to decompose, absorbing oxygen fish need to survive. Soil and dirt washed from yards can also harm aquatic life by clogging the gills of fish, blocking light transmission, lowering water temperatures, and inhibiting photosynthesis.