Streets to Streams

Autumn Action Plan for Stormwater Health

It’s that time of year again when leaves are starting to fall and many of us are beginning to prepare for the upcoming rainy season here in Contra Costa County.  

This edition of our Stormwater Smart Blog Series focuses on an Autumn Action Plan for Stormwater Health. Learn about the practical, easy steps that you can take to keep our streets and public areas clean and prevent stormwater pollution.  

How Are Clean Streets Related to Stormwater and Clean Waterways? 

Clean streets and public areas reduce the negative impacts on our stormwater systems and improve the health of our cherished local waterways.

Stormwater 101: A Quick Recap of Stormwater and Its Impacts:

• Stormwater is rainwater runoff that flows over surfaces like lawns, driveways, and streets, picking up pollutants along the way.

• It then travels through a network of storm drains and channels, flowing directly into our local water bodies, including our streams, the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, and the San Francisco Bay, all without being treated.

Why is Stormwater a Concern?

• Our stormwater drains were designed to prevent flooding in Contra Costa’s communities and homes.  Unfortunately, stormwater picks up whatever is in its path and empties directly into our waterways without any form of treatment.  

• This means that all the pollutants in our yards, driveways, streets, and public areas get picked up by the stormwater.  This includes things like fertilizers, pesticides, motor oil, soaps, bacteria from pet waste and failed septic systems, chemicals, soil, plastic, trash, and green and yard waste.

• These pollutants can harm wildlife, degrade water quality, and even pose risks to human health. Additionally, items like leaf litter, green waste, and garbage can clog storm drains, leading to street flooding.

Clean streets and public areas can reduce the negative impacts on our stormwater systems and improve the health of our cherished local waterways.

For a more in-depth explanation of stormwater, including what it is and its major role in the health of Contra Costa’s waterways, explore our first blog in this Stormwater Smart series. 

I am Just a Resident or Small Business Owner; What Do I have to Do with Stormwater and Clean Streets?

A lot! Everyone can help by reducing pollutants that go into the storm drains.

Being mindful of how we care for our yards, streets, and public areas, we all can make a big difference in keeping our stormwater system clean and protecting Contra Costa’s waterways. 

What Can I Do? 

Autumn Action Plan for Cleaner Streets & Cleaner Waters:

Here are some simple things you can do to keep our streets clean and prevent stormwater pollution this Fall.

1. Move Your Car for Municipal Street Sweeping Efforts

What is Street Sweeping?

Street sweeping is more than just a way to keep our streets looking nice. It plays a crucial role in preventing stormwater pollution and keeping our waterways clean.

Regular street sweeping removes four major categories of pollutants from our streets before they can be washed into our storm drains:

• Litter (trash, bottles, paper)
• Natural (dirt, leaves, debris)
• Sediment (dirt, soil)
• Contaminants (pollutants, oils, particles from tires and brake pads)  

By preventing these materials from clogging drains, street sweeping helps reduce the risk of neighborhood flooding during heavy rains and improves overall water quality in our streams and rivers.

Find Your Street Sweeping Schedule and Routes:  

• The County Watershed Program coordinates street sweeping in unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County. 

• You can find the street sweeping schedule (PDF) and routes (PDF) for neighborhoods in unincorporated Contra Costa County. 

• You can also call the County Watershed Program at (925) 313-2236 to confirm your street sweeping day.
• Note that the sweeping schedule is subject to change when it rains as sweepers cannot operate in wet weather.
• If you live in Bay Point, your street sweeping program is managed by Delta Diablo Sanitation District (DDSD). For more information call (925) 756-1900 or visit DDSD’s website for a route map.

What Can I Do?

• Move your car and other obstacles like garbage bins and recycle containers on street sweeping days to ensure the sweepers can do their job effectively.

• Trim back vegetation so sweeper trucks can easily pass.

• Remind your neighbors of the sweeping schedule.

2. Green Waste & Grass Clippings: Making Your Own Compost

How Does My Yard Waste Relate to Stormwater Pollution?

Poor management of yard waste and grass clippings can clog storm drains and lead to an increase in the debris in our waterways.

Even though leaves and organic matter break down naturally, if there is too much in the water, the breakdown process can take valuable oxygen from the water.  This can stress and even kill fish and other aquatic life. 

Instead of letting this green waste wash into storm drains, consider home composting.

What is Composting?

Composting is a natural process where yard waste and vegetable scraps break down into a great soil enhancer and mulch. Adding compost into soil improves the soil’s texture, and helps it hold water better.  This reduces evaporation, so your landscaping will need less water.

Composting helps keep organic matter out of our waterways and provides you with nutrient-rich soil for your garden. It’s a win-win situation—your plants get a boost, and you help prevent stormwater pollution.

Plus, making your own compost enriches soil health, making it ideal for gardens and reducing the need for chemical fertilizers.

Home composting is a great way to reduce waste, recycle your yard debris, help your garden, and keep waste out of storm drains. 

What Can I Do?

• Recycle grass clippings and their nutrients on your lawn.
• Mulch your leaves into your yard or pile them in your garden areas. 
• If it’s not an option for you to home compost, use designated green waste recycling bins, which keep the waste from washing into streams.

How Do I Learn More?

Contra Costa has a host of resources available on composting, including:

• Guides and videos on home composting at Contra Costa County Solid Waste and Recycling website
• UC Master Gardener Program of Contra Costa County has blog articles on Composting like this one. 

3. Scoop the Poop: Responsible Pet Waste Management

What’s the Big deal?

Pet waste is more than just a nuisance; it’s a significant pollutant. Harmful bacteria and pathogens in pet poop can contaminate water sources if  not properly disposed of. When it rains, pet waste left on the ground can wash into storm drains, which then go directly into our waterways. Responsible pet owners play a vital role in maintaining the health and cleanliness of our community spaces.

What Can I Do?

• Always bring bags when you walk your dog and dispose of pet waste in designated trash bins or when you return home.  
• It’s a simple step that can make a big difference in protecting water quality and reducing the risk of bacteria-related illnesses.

4. Keeping Public Areas Clean of Litter

Why the Concern?

Every piece of litter left on streets or in public areas poses a potential threat to water quality because it can end up in our storm drain system and flow into our creeks and waterways.

Public areas like parks and playgrounds can become litter hotspots. Keeping these areas clean is essential for preventing litter from being washed into storm drains. 

Ensuring that trash finds its way into designated bins prevents it from being carried into storm drains and ultimately into our water bodies. 

What Can I Do?

• Dispose of trash properly when you are out and about. 
• Pick up litter when you see it – even if it’s not yours, especially any plastic on streets and in public areas. 
• Encourage friends and family to pick up litter.
• At home, make sure you have tight lids on your garbage cans to prevent spillage.
• Businesses can help by providing adequate trash receptacles and maintaining clean surroundings. 

5. Get Involved

Be sure to stay on the lookout for local cleanup events or volunteering opportunities in our county – this list of local watershed-related organizations is a great place to start looking!

You can also contact one of the creek groups that are active in Contra Costa County to participate in a creek cleanup. 

Stay connected with the Contra Costa Clean Water Program 

As you can see, there are so many opportunities to be part of the stormwater pollution solution this Fall. 

Stormwater is a significant issue, but by taking small steps, we can each make a big difference. Let’s work together to keep our streets clean and protect our waterways for future generations.

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