The following is a release from the city of Bothell:

Many residents mistakenly blow their fallen leaves into the street, not realizing they can become a hazard to their property and neighborhood. The storm drains in your street capture, move, and release rain water into the nearest stream to keep excess water away from your property. If leaves are allowed to enter the street, they often clog these drains and do not allow rain water to pass through. This can cause localized flooding, which is harmful to personal and public property.

“Many residents think they are helping by placing their leaves in the street for collection but this is the worst thing to do with your leaves,” said Bothell City Street/Storm Maintenance Supervisor Timothy Loo. “Our crews work hard to clear our streets quickly and efficiently, and excess leaves force our sweepers to make multiple trips to single neighborhoods leaving many neighborhoods at risk during storm events.”

Here are some ways you can help:

• Use them for mulch on your garden beds and landscaped areas- leaves are the perfect mulch for your beds and will quickly decompose to provide you with free fertilizer for spring. They also provide an erosion barrier for your soil and discourage weed growth. Worried about them blowing away?  Simply place compost, soil, or temporary netting over the top to hold them in place.

• Mulch them into your lawn – for leaves on your lawn, simply mow them and allow the material to mulch into your lawn or bag the clippings and place them in your yard waste bin.  Leaves are an excellent source of nutrients for your lawn.

• Place them in your yard debris bin – rake them up and place them in your yard debris bin for collection.

• Join the Adopt-A-Drain Program – pledge to adopt at least four storm drains in your neighborhood and clear them before and after rain events. The City will provide additional yard debris bags and pick-up at no cost to the homeowner for leaf disposal.

• Tell your friends and neighbors – please help us get the word out about keeping leaves out of the streets. The neighborhood you save just might be your own.

To learn more about how to volunteer and participate in Bothell’s future, visit the City website at www.ci.bothell.wa.us. For more information about the importance of Natural Yard Care visit www.naturalyardcare.info.