November 2019   |   Issue No. 19
Watershed Quarterly: 
       Properly Disposing of Leaves and Grass
   
Fall has arrived and many homeowners and businesses are busy with seasonal landscaping. It is important to remember during this time of year that lawn-mowing and leaf-raking debris should not be swept, blown or deposited in stormwater drains or in streams. Grass clippings and leaf litter should not be blown into the street, sidewalk, or ditch where it could be washed into the storm drains and streams. Debris can clog stormwater pipes and cause flooding. It can also harm aquatic life in the streams as it decays.
 
There are other options for handling grass and leave litter.
  • Mulch them and leave on the yard or add to a compost pile.
  • Bag them and set up out for pickup with your regular trash. See guidelines  
  • Take them to the City's Mulch Site  at 2100 N. 145th E. Ave. Tulsa OK
Please manage lawns and gardens in an environmentally friendly manner.
Species Spotlight:
     Damselfly

Damselflies are an ancient insect found on every continent except Antarctica. Damselflies are similar to dragonflies but are generally smaller, have slimmer bodies, and most species fold the wings along the body when at rest. In contrast, dragonflies rest with their wings spread apart.

The nymphs of damselflies are aquatic with different species living in a variety of freshwater habitats including acid bogs, ponds, lakes and rivers. Dragonflies are more affected by pollution than are damselflies. The presence of either damselflies or dragonflies indicates that an ecosystem is of good quality. The greatest numbers of species are found at sites that offer a wide variety of microhabitats. Different species have different requirements for their larvae with regard to water depth, water movement and pH.

The main threats experienced by damselflies are the clearance of forests, the pollution of waterways, the lowering of groundwater levels, the damming of rivers for hydroelectric schemes and the general degradation of wetlands and marshes.  
Best Management Practices
for Car Washing

This summer we saw the completion of our first storm drain art project. This project brings awareness to storm drain pollution, as well as to provide education on where this water goes. 

Meredith Cooper of Tulsa Honor Academy oversaw the design and completion of this artwork. She and her students contributed their personal time and effort toward this project. 

We hope to see the program continue to grow, providing art and education across the city of Tulsa.


Tulsa State Fair 2019 is in the Books
Our goal is to educate citizens of Tulsa about the harmful effects of stormwater pollution. We are always looking for opportunities to meet with residents and talk about how they can make a difference. One of our biggest outreach opportunities is the Tulsa State Fair, and 2019 marks our eighth year of setting up an educational booth. This year we doubled the size of our booth and added new vibrant displays and a replica of a working rain barrel system. We had many great discussions with citizens who were excited about implementing new habits around their homes to make a difference. We were also excited to hand out 48 percent more educational information than the year before.

Education Spotlight:
     Springdale Elementary

At the beginning of the school year we had the opportunity to be a part of the Springdale Elementary opening assembly. We spoke with approximately 350 students and teachers about our local creeks and streams, native fish, and the ways storm drain pollution affects these areas. They were a great group of students and fun to interact with. We will be returning soon to speak to some of the individual classes. 
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