The Time is Now!!

Summer is in full swing! The grass is growing, and the trees are full of green. That leads to the problem with yard waste.

The Solution: Compost!! 

Compost is a nutrient-rich soil amendment, created by the natural decomposition of kitchen and yard waste. It is the best and easiest method for getting rid of yard waste as yard waste is BANNED from the landfill.

Compost also reduces water pollution. Organic wastes, such as grass clippings and leaves, contribute to non-point source pollution (that's pollution that enters the waters in diffuse sources, such as runoff from streets). When yard waste decomposes in the water excess nutrients are released and oxygen is depleted. . . making a horrible environment for aquatic life.

Composting is Good!!

Here is the basic formula for making compost:

One of the important things to remember about home composting is that you want to make the critters that do the all work happy. Summer can dry up a compost pile, so it is important to make sure there is moisture in your pile (as wet as a wrung-out sponge). 

Visit our "Composting" tab for more examples of compost ingredients.

Keep grass clippings in check

Mowing the lawn is part of urban life around here. And the product of mowing? Grass clippings!! Often times grass clippings are left on the lawn, which is the preferred “disposal” method (grass clippings equal one application of nitrogen per year, reducing fertilizer needs). But, some of the excessive clippings inevitably find their way onto impervious surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks and streets. When a rain storm hits, all those clippings will travel to a storm drain and will result in something that looks like this:

To avoid your neighbors calling the authorities wondering what that creepy green stuff that is polluting the waters and killing the fish, sweep up your clippings! Grass clippings have nutrients that contribute to algae growth and eutrophication of water bodies. Thus, leaving your grass clippings on driveways, sidewalks, etc. for the rain to carry it away is just like pouring fertilizer directly into the water.

Don’t do it! 

Compost those clippings!

Did you mow your lawn this past weekend?

Did you mow your lawn over the nice sunny weekend? Are there lots of grass debris scattered on the sidewalk, driveway, or other areas around your home?

Hopefully you have cleaned the grass clippings up and put them in your compost pile. Excess grass clippings, especially on paved surfaces, can get washed down storm drains during rain storms and cause water quality problems.

Reminder:  

SOIL SAMPLING (noon) and COMPOSTING (1 PM) CLASSES

FREE AND NO PRE-REGISTRATION NEEDED

May 31, 2014

Wessman Arena – Caitlin and 28th St.

Thinking of lawn care?

It's a great time of year! The sun is shining and the snow is melting. It is time to start thinking about our yards! Though we strive to have a lush green lawn, keep in mind that overuse of phosphorus and nitrogen based fertilizers have a profound effect on the watershed, which includes streams, rivers, lakes, and the entire watershed. When heavily applied, these nutrient rich lawns produce nutrient rich runoff, these often go untreated before entering a stream which ultimately leads to our Lake Superior.

Think you're being conscientious by not using any fertilizer? Think again! A U of M study found that neglected lawns produce more polluted runoff than a modestly fertilized, cared for lawn. Everything in moderation!

Lake Superior residents, if we are to live up to our name, lets act like it!

Cute, Cuddly Contaminators: Pick up Pet Waste to Prevent Pollution

It’s a cold day in Superior.  Pet owners, you’re probably not looking forward to walking Fido around the block today.  In summer, it’s warm and you can stop to chat with neighbors on your walks.  Winter walks, on the other hand, are cold, terrain can be questionable, and taking the time to scoop poop out of a snow pile seems like a waste when you could be inside drinking cocoa and eating cookies.  Spend the extra few seconds to pick up the gift Fido left on someone else’s lawn.  It’s not only polite, it’s also the law in Superior and important for protecting our water resources.

In the summer, when yards are tended to daily, a big pile of brown stuff will stand out in a lawn of green.  When there’s snow to hide it, it’s easier to forget that pet waste needs to be picked up.  Come spring, you’ll be glad you did though.  When the snow melts, pet waste is carried with the water down the storm drains.  As we’ve previously mentioned, most of the storm drains in Superior go straight to rivers and rivers, then go out to Lake Superior without making a stop at the wastewater treatment plant.  If pet waste is allowed to go along with the snowmelt, imagine what you could see when you’re fishing or swimming.  Yuck!  Even if you can’t see it, evidence of pet waste in our waters is shown through summer beach closings. 

Pet waste carries many diseases and parasites that can be transmitted to people.  When the waste decomposes, it uses up oxygen.  The nutrients in the waste can also cause overgrowth of algae; when algae dies, it also uses up oxygen.  Both of these factors can lead to unhappy aquatic life. 

Many people use grocery bags to pick up pet waste.  There are also several different brands of biodegradable bags available locally.  The City of Superior also has biodegradable pet waste bags conveniently located in the city parks.  So what should you do with the pet waste once you’ve picked it up?  There are a few options.  Flushing it down the toilet will take it to the wastewater treatment plant and allow it to be treated before it is released into the lake.  You can also put it in the trash.  Another option is to bury it, but be sure to keep it away from any food you may have growing in the yard or water sources. 

Thanks for being a responsible pet owner!  For more information, please check out these links:

City of Superior: Preventing Stormwater Pollution

 City of Superior IDDE

UW Extension Pet Waste and Water Quality

 NPDES Pet Waste BMP

Wisconsin Beach Health

-Written by Jillian Schubert Edwards