Portage-Arcadia Watershed Education

Do I Live in a Storm Sewer Riparian Zone?

Click here to find out which subwatershed you live in

Storm sewer riparian is a term coined, as for as we know, right here in Kalamazoo, during the activities of this project. If you live in an area with storm sewers that carry the storm water from your neighborhood to a lake, creek, stream or river (that is, you live in a contributing watershed) then you live in a storm sewer riparian zone. The storm sewer catch basins (what the water flows into under the road, along the edges) on your road direct stormwater (that water which runs off of your roof top, driveway and property when it rains) to area creeks. The watershed you live in indicates which creek that water flows to. Many people mistakenly believe that these sewers send water to the Water Reclamation Plant (like those connected to the drains in your house); they do not . This storm water, along with debris, flows directly into the creeks. Therefore, when it rains, a large volume of water runs off of impervious surfaces (surfaces such as driveways, roof tops and parking lots that do not absorb water) and into the creeks. Normally, this water would infiltrate or penetrate into the ground and to the groundwater before slowly discharging to the creeks. In highly impervious areas (such as heavily developed urban areas), much of the stormwater tends to enter the creek(s) during a brief period of time in what appears to be one large flush. Materials on the surface of impervious materials, such as oils, nutrients, solids and a variety of debris are typically caught up and transported in the sudden rush of water called the first flush. During dry weather, the creek flow becomes much lower since there is little groundwater recharge taking place. When an urban stream has very high flows during rain events and very low flows during dry weather is commonly referred to as a "flashy" condition. This "flashiness" tends to disrupt wildlife habitat, cause bank erosion and transport unwanted nutrients, chemicals and soil particles into the stream.

Did you know you can help decrease the amount of stormwater that flows into the sewers when it rains? Here are some simple ways you can help:

rain gardens (a low depression supporting plants which can withstand flooding. Rain water is directed to these gardens to be held and slowly infiltrate into the ground.)
rain barrels (a container that holds water from your roof downspout during a rain event. During dry weather you can use this stored water to irrigate your plants/lawn, where it will infiltrate into the ground).
increasing the amount of surface area on your property that will allow water to sink in driveway swales (depressions planted with vegetation. Swales hold and direct rain water while removing suspended solids.)
plant native vegetation (like prairie plants, trees and shrubs) in your yard instead of all grass. These deep rooted plants allow more water to infiltrate into your lawn, decreasing flooding and runoff. Additionally, native plants are adapted to the area, which means they need less watering, little or no fertilizer and pesticides and provide wildlife habitat.

Even if you do not decrease the amount of stormwater entering our storm sewers (and eventually our creeks), you can help to keep that water cleaner by:

minimizing or eliminating your use of pesticides and fertilizers on your lawn
not throwing things down the storm sewers or into the streets (such as grass clippings, used motor oil, sands, soils and fertilizers swept from walks and driveways, paper wrappers and cigarette butts)
washing your car on your lawn instead of the driveway (detergents will infiltrate through the soils instead of flowing directly into the creek)
using the Kalamazoo County Household Hazardous Waste program for the proper disposal of hazardous materials (http://www.kalcounty.com/recycling/hazwaste.htm), call 616-373-5211. You DO make a difference. Leave our children a healthy legacy.