Leaf Management & Adopt a Storm Drain Program

Leaf Management Campaign

Each year our trees shed their leaves and many of these find their way into the streets, gutters, and storm drain covers.  Once these leaves become wet from rain they begin to break down and release phosphorus.  This phosphorus takes two forms, solid and dissolved.  Dissolved phosphorus has been proven to be the most significant contributor to algae blooms in our local waterways.  Once this phosphorus is dissolved it is very difficult to nearly impossible to remove from the water.  One pound of dissolved or physical phosphorus is enough to feed 500 wet pounds of algae.  Because of this, the City's Sustainability Committee is teaming up with the Public Works Department to initiate a campaign to encourage proper leaf management by Monona's residents.  We must try to keep our streets leaf free!

In order to do this, please read this article for ideas on how to create good leaf management habits.

For more information, see related documents in the right-hand toolbar.

Adopt a Storm Drain Program 

This year, the City of Monona is asking you to consider adopting a storm drain in your neighborhood. Storm drains are the open grates found along the edges of our streets and in some of our local parkways. These storm drains are designed to collect storm water and direct it to underground storm sewers. The storm sewers then direct the storm water to local retention and detention ponds, or local streams. Any pollution or debris that goes down a storm drain winds up entering these same waterways.   

How does one adopt a storm drain?

Please contact Brad Bruun, the City of Monona Public Works Project Coordinator and GIS Specialist.  Contact information is located along the right-hand side of this page.

To figure out what the ID number for the storm drains located on the street outside of your home, consult this map.  Click on a storm drain to find the number then email or call Brad Bruun.  Leave a message with your name, address, phone number, and the storm drain number or a brief description of the drain you'd like to adopt.

The flier attached to the right is a good source of information to learn more about the responsibilities of anyone looking to adopt a drain.

Additional Information

Please do not dump anything down into the storm drains. Anything going into the storm drains eventually winds up in our local ponds and streams. Dispose of oil, antifreeze and other liquid wastes with licensed recyclers. If everyone does a little, we can all enjoy a cleaner, healthier community this year.

If you'd like more resources then visit the Ripple Effects webpage.  Or visit the Dane County Land and Water Resources webpage for more information on what you can do to help keep our lakes clean.  

The Leaf Management and Adopt a Storm Drain program is part of the City's ongoing Public Education and Outreach efforts.  in support of our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (NPDES MS4) permit requirements.