Storm Drains: Pollution Prevention is up to US
THE MARIN COUNTY Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (MCSTOPPP), which was formed in 1993, is a joint effort of Marin's cities, towns and unincorporated areas to prevent stormwater pollution, protect and enhance water quality in creeks and wetlands, preserve beneficial uses of local waterways, and comply with State and Federal regulations. The federal government, with the 1987 amendment to the Clean Water Act, has mandated a cleanup of stormwater pollution.
The County and each of Marin's 11 cities and towns have local ordinances that forbid dumping of anything but rainwater into storm drains. To protect local waterways, the ordinances also require businesses to take reasonable, practical steps to minimize pollutants running off parking lots, outdoor work areas, and construction sites.
Common sources of chemical stormwater pollution include spilled oil, fuel and fluids from vehicles and heavy equipment; landscaping runoff containing pesticides or weed killers; and materials such as used motor oil, antifreeze, and paint products that people pour into a street or storm drain. These pollutants are carried by water through the storm drain system. While water used in our homes and businesses drains to a sewage treatment plant, stormwater flows directly to local creeks, wetlands and the Bay, with no treatment.
In Marin County, catch basins are labeled to remind you of the water's final destination. Stormwater pollution is a serious problem for wildlife dependent on our waterways and for the people who live near polluted streams or wetlands. It can cause declines in fish populations, disrupt habitats and limit water recreation activities. Even more importantly, stormwater pollution poses a series of threats to the overall health of the ecosystem.
Another type of pollution is caused by decomposing leaves. Perhaps the single most important action a homeowner can take to prevent stormwater pollution is to properly dispose of cleared vegetation. Cleared vegetation, tree trimmings, and other plant material can cause environmental damage if it gets into creeks. Such "organic" material uses large quantities of oxygen as it decomposes, reducing the oxygen available to fish and other aquatic life.
Do not dispose of plant material in a creek or drainage facility or leave it in a roadway where it can clog storm drain inlets.
We hope you will join us by using the Best Management Practices Guides provided by MCSTOPPP. These brochures and other related materials can be picked up at Larkspur City Hall, 400 Magnolia Ave., second floor (927-5110) or you can call MCSTOPPP at 485-3363 for tips on how to prevent pollutants from entering our storm drains.
To learn more about creek care, obtain printed materials and publications, or volunteer for creek care projects, please contact Friends of Corte Madera Creek Watershed at 454-8608 or 456-5052.
For more information visit the Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program website.
