Defying the Stencil

It's fall, that time when leaves fall off most of the trees. I recently went to a presentation about how nutrients (phosphorous and nitrogen) get into our waterways and lead to algae growth and other problems, like that dead spot just beyond the Mississippi River delta. The majority of runoff comes from farms, but leaves are a significant part of the runoff from cities.

Then I saw this while walking down the street today:


Stenciled in white, just to the left of a leaf-clogged storm drain, are the words "Keep 'em clean: Drains to River."

The message seems clear enough to me, but maybe some people don't realize they shouldn't let the leaves from their yards get into the street. Or that if they're already in the street, you need to get them out of there.

These leaves have already reached the storm drain and will wash down it when the next rain comes. I know what I'll be taking care of tomorrow, before the next rain.