Residents Invited to Help Clean Streets, Clean Streams This Fall

Did you know that everyone in Rochester has waterfront property?  Your yard is connected to the water by the nearest storm drain or ditch.  Autumn brings falling leaves and if they reach our waterways they add phosphorous – the nutrient that turns our lakes and rivers green with algae.  So this fall, we’re asking citizens to step up their own raking and sweeping efforts to help keep our water clean. 

It is estimated that five 60-gallon garbage bags filled with leaves and organic matter equals about 1 pound of phosphorous and a single pound of phosphorous can yield up to 1,000 pounds of algae!  When those leaves decay, they also reduce the concentration of oxygen in water, adding stress to oxygen-breathing aquatic animals.

You can help reduce pollution by cleaning leaves and debris from curbs and storm drains in front of your property, especially if it looks like it will rain before the street sweepers reach you.  First, collect litter and throw it in your trash.  Then either compost the leaves at home or take them to the Olmsted County Compost Site (301 Silver Creek Road NE, open daily from dawn to dusk).  Never dispose of in the street, ravines, ditches, wetlands or water.  With over 820 miles of streets to cover in Rochester, the City’s four street sweepers can’t be everywhere at once, so everyone is encouraged to do their part to protect Rochester’s waterways.

To report illegal dumping of leaves, call 328-2440 or email. 

The Freshwater Society is promoting fall leaf cleanup programs statewide and will be collecting data from these events.  Participants can learn more about this program and how to submit their numbers to the statewide totals at: www.rochesterstormwater.com on the Happenings page.

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