If you consider every grass stain on your New Balances a badge of honor, we salute you for making Dads everywhere proud. On behalf of our next generation, we’re asking you to go just one small step further: sweep up your dirt when you’re
done with yardwork.
The North Platte River is basically the backyard for all of Casper – so it’s up to all of us to keep it clean, and you may be unintentionally polluting it when you mow or landscape. The dirt, grass clippings, rocks and other sediment that flies up like nature’s confetti celebrating your horticultural victory can become poisonous fish hors d’oeuvres when you sweep lawn debris into the street.
Rain and melting snow create stormwater runoff, and this flows off roofs, sidewalks, driveways, etc. down our street gutters and eventually into the North Platte River. Stormwater runoff picks up a lot of different stuff along the way, including all that extra dirt and grass you pushed into the street.
Many of us don’t realize that natural stuff from our yards can pollute our river. After all, it’s all from the ground, right? It’s important to understand that just because something is natural doesn’t mean it can’t be harmful in non-native environments. Sediment and grass clippings negatively impact habitats by blocking sunlight and preventing plants from performing photosynthesis, and they can kill fish who ingest it into their gills. They also make the river look like a cloudy, muddy mess.
With your help, we can collectively take a stand and say not in our back yard. We know how hard you’ve worked on your yard, so we’re asking to just take one quick, final step. Instead of sweeping into the street, sweep your dirt and clippings into a trash bag, then throw the bag away. It’s one small step that can make a big impact on our river. Your yard and cleanup tactics will be the envy of the neighborhood.
