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Stream Care Tips

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Help Keep Our Streams Clean
Healthy Streams start at home.

We all have a part in keeping our streams clean. Chemicals, herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, and dirt can leach into our waterways. This leaching can alter the chemistry of our creeks and streams, promoting unnatural algae growth and increased turbidity. The alga and excess sediment take up oxygen from the water—oxygen that is needed for fish and healthy stream life. Here are some steps we can all take to help keep our streams healthy and our homes clean:

Home Care
If you do it yourself...

Whenever possible, purchase Eco-friendly latex (water-based) paint. Donate usable, leftover paint to a non-profit organization or recycle the paint at METRO's hazardous waste collection facilities - 80% of the paint collected is recycled. Our nearest location is 6161 NW 61st Ave., Portland.
Consider using recycled paint for your projects. Paint can be purchased at MetroPaint Store at 4825 N. Basin Ave., Portland.

Take unusable household chemicals to METRO's hazardous waste collection facilities - never pour chemicals in the storm drain. For locations, hours, and neighborhood events go to Metro's site.
Sweep your driveway and sidewalk. Avoid hosing them down where the dirty water can run into the nearest storm drain and directly into our creeks.
Wash tools and equipment over a grass or soil-covered area where wash water will not enter a storm drain.
Dispose of dirty carpet cleaning solution down a sink or toilet, not a storm drain. The dirty water will then be treated at our sewage treatment facilities before reaching the stream.
Use biodegradable soap when washing exterior windows or buildings. Pour the excess wash water down the sink or toilet.
Control algae in your pool by regulating chlorine levels and by using a pool cover to block sunlight. Avoid using copper-based algae treatments.
Discharge pool or spa water in a utility sink, toilet, or other drain that is connected to the sanitary sewer, not the storm drain, or determine when chlorine residual is zero: wait 24 hours, then let the water run through your grass.

If you hire someone...

Make sure hired painters clean brushes and dispose of paint and residues properly, not in the street or a storm drain.
Monitor spa and pool professionals to make sure they pool and spa water is de-chlorinated and run through the grass or disposed of down a utility sink or other drain connected to the sanitary sewer, not the storm drain.
Talk with your cleaning and window washing professionals to make sure wash water is disposed of on your lawn or down the sink or toilet.
Never allow someone cleaning your carpets to dispose of dirty wash water in the storm drain. Have them dump the soiled solution into a utility sink, down the toilet, or onto a lawn area.

Yard Care
If you do it yourself�

Leave lawn clippings on your lawn. Studies have shown that clippings can add substantial amounts of nutrients to your soil, reducing the need for fertilizer.
Plant native plants. These plants thrive in our climate and require less water. For ideas on which plants would be suited for your yard try using Clean Water Services Native Plant Finder. If you choose non-native plants, make sure they are not invasive species.
Composting yard and garden waste. The waste decomposes into organic matter that can be used again in your garden or sprinkled on your lawn to improve the soil. For specific guidance on effective composting go to Metro and search "composting" to get started.

Hand-pull or dig weeds rather than using herbicide. If weed infestations are small pour boiling water from a tea kettle over each weed to effectively remove them.
Spray insects with water or insecticidal soap, use beneficial insects, or pick insects off of plants. To get started go to Metro and search for "Natural Gardening Guidebook". You will find useful and effective methods to identify pests and find the right solutions.
Pick up pet waste, bag it, and place it in the trash. Rain carries bacteria from pet waste into storm drains and out to the nearest creek. So even if you don't live near a stream, bacteria from your pet's waste will eventually travel through the storm drain system to the local stream. DNA testing for fecal bacteria sources in Tigard's streams revealed that up to 20% of fecal bacteria is canine!!! If possible flush solid dog waste down the toilet but please remember not to flush any bags!
Do not sweep or rake leaves into a street or storm drain, either bag or compost them. Watch for the City of Tigard's fall leaf roundup events where leaves can be dropped off for the cost of a donation of nonperishable food. Leaf round ups are held from late October to December.

If you hire someone�

Make sure your lawn maintenance contractor applies only the recommended application rates. Avoid over-applying fertilizers to the lawn where excess nutrients will not be absorbed and will be carried to the streams with rain water.
Request that your lawn maintenance contractor collects yard waste for composting. Do not let them blow or rake leaves or other lawn debris into a street or storm drain.