Lincoln Stormwater Program

December Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE:

What The Rainy Season Means For Stormwater Quality
Five Benefits Of A Rain Barrel - The Simple Way To Make A Difference
Three Strategies For Mindful Water Usage
City of Lincoln Leaf Collection Program

What The Rainy Season Means For Stormwater Quality

It’s that time of year again—the rain is coming and our local waterways need your help to ensure that they are not adversely impacted by the materials that may be washed off of the urban landscape. When the rainy season starts, the rainwater washes off anything that it comes into contact with including roofs, driveways, sidewalks and lawns. As the water flows off these surfaces, it can pick up and carry various pollutants such as bacteria from animal waste, automobile fluids, trash, fertilizers, and pesticides. This water then flows into storm drains and, ultimately, into the local waterways.

Since stormwater is not treated before entering the local waterways, it can adversely impact water quality or aquatic life if it has transported pollutants into the local waterways.

As City of Lincoln residents, we can do something to prevent stormwater pollution. Continue reading to learn how.

Five Benefits Of A Rain Barrel - The Simple Way To Make A Difference

The storm clouds are forming and there’s about to be an abundance of a free resource —rainwater!

But you only have a handful of months to capture this water for later use. Now is the perfect time to install a rain barrel to collect this precious resource! This simple practice reduces:

Long-term water costs
Groundwater depletion
Flooding and erosion

Plus, for every inch of rain, a rain barrel can collect up to 600 gallons of water per 1,000 sq ft of roof area, thereby preventing stormwater pollution with each raindrop.

To get started, here is a resource from our neighbors Bay Area Stormwater Management Agencies Association about rain barrel installation and maintenance.

MORE RAINBARREL INFO HERE >

Three Strategies for Mindful Water Usage

Even though the rainy season is upon us, dry stretches between storms can happen. Do your part this season by incorporating mindfulness to stretch water use during the winter.

Here are some strategies that you can use to help reduce the amount of water that is used within our city:

Sunrise/sunset watering: Water your lawn early in the morning or in the late afternoon when evaporation from the sun is low and the water has time to soak into the soil.
Watch for rain: When rain is in the forecast, turn off automatic sprinkler systems or install a rain sensor, which will switch them off for you.
Don’t use if it’s going to rain: Do not use pesticides if rain is forecasted within 24 hours.
Be sprinkler smart:
- Adjust sprinklers so they don’t spray onto streets and sidewalks
- Repair leaking or broken sprinklers
- Water in short cycles (3-5 minutes) to allow water to absorb into the soil
- New sprinkler technology includes timers that read real-time conditions and deliver just enough water to keep your plants healthy.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WINTER WATERING HERE >

When watering your lawn or garden, be mindful of foliage running off your property. Luckily for you, there’s still time to get help from the City of Lincoln with excess leaves.

The City of Lincoln’s Leaf Collection Program

The Program runs from November 1 through December 31. Residents in the highlighted areas of the map below will receive leaf collection services on the indicated days during this time period.

Don't Live In The Downtown Area? Schedule A FREE Pickup Through The Month Of December!

For the month of December, the City is offering leaf picup to those residents who don't live in the downtown area. This is no charge for this pickup nor limit to how many bags can be collected. This service is available to all City residents and will be provided on Thursdays thoughout the month of December..

To schedule a pickup, please call Public Works at 916-434-2450 or click here for more information.

GET INFORMATION ABOUT THE CITY OF LINCOLN'S LEAF COLLECTION PROGRAM >