Regional Stormwater Protection Team

Illicit discharge sounds bad. Sounds scary. Sounds awful. And that is because it is! There are important protections in place for our watershed, and when you encounter projects that are unable to follow those guidelines, there are plenty of places to call so those projects can get back on track. Clean water is totally worth it! - NPF
**pFairy

There are two types of litterers; the on-purpose and the unintentional. Don't get me started about the on-purpose litterer. But sometimes you just make the mistake of filling up your bin too full or wasn't aware the wind would blow that hard. That litter is still your responsibility too, so be sure to think ahead and plan so that you don't become an accidental, unintentional littererererer. **pFairy

A heads up for some awesome educational experiences coming up in September. Stormwater is an everybody-issue, but not everybody knows about stormwater. Take a look at the schedule below and make plans to join in! **pFairy

Hey, America, hope you had fun blowing stuff up for your birthday yesterday. I like a good party and explosions as much as any mythical being, but be sure to clean up all that fireworks debris from your driveway and the road in front of your house because that stuff certainly doesn't belong in the stormwater system. And, while you are at it, pick up your pet's p**p as well. :) **pFairy

Illicit discharge sounds pretty bad. Because it is. But you can help when you see pollutants entering the stormwater system by calling the appropriate numbers listed on my handy-dandy website below. - NPF

I know that you know to pick up your pet's p**p. You've seen me talk about it. You know you should do it. We got this.

But, did you also know you should keep your grass clippings to yourself? Those clippings are no good in the storm sewers. And, as you know, there is No Grass Fairy to clean that out of the storm sewer for you. So, keep your lawn on your lawn, even when you've trimmed your lawn.

And, pick up your pet's p**p! **pfairy

Keep grass clippings in your yard, please! 👍

➡ Grass clippings and debris in the street are prohibited and a finable offense under City Code 58-2 and the City’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit.

Did you know? 🤔
Most storm drains connect our streets to our streams! ⛈🚗🐠 The excess nutrients from grass and leaves can cause clogs in storm sewers and algae blooms in local streams. 😱 Once algae decays, it depletes the oxygen in water needed by fish and other aquatic organisms. ⭐ 25% of your lawn’s total fertilizing needs can be met by leaving grass clippings on your lawn! ⭐

➡ Lawn maintenance tips:
1. Set mower blade correctly. Leave 3” of grass growing to inhibit w**d growth and minimize watering requirements.
2. Plan your border cuts. Ensure blower is blowing clippings into the lawn, not the sidewalks and streets.
3. Mulch in place or compost. Leave mulched grass and leaves on the lawn. Or, collect clippings and add to compost.

Learn more by visiting https://lawntolakemidwest.org/the-basics/

Win prizes, help the environment, be awesome. Seems like a very No P**p Fairy thing to me. - No P**p Fairy

2024 Spring Beach Cleanup — Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve Help Keep Wisconsin Point Clean! The Friends of the Lake Superior Reserve, in partnership with the City of Superior, are holding another beach cleanup at Wisconsin Point! The Point is a beautiful place between Lake Superior and the St. Louis River Estuary.  It is an official “Important Bi

Hey, this winter has been weird. But there is still some smart salting you might need to do this week. Less is more, especially when you know it all ends up in the lake.

Temperatures will drop below freezing (32°F) within the next few days. 🥶👍 Check out US National Weather Service Duluth Minnesota for updates! 😁

Although we lack the snow and ice we had last year, sidewalks and roads can still get slick! Switch to sand or grit to prevent slips. 🙌🌬

⭐ If we do get snow, remember to follow the Smart Salting Steps below to prevent over-salting. ⭐

➡ Learn a p**p-ton more by visiting https://www.p**pfairy.university/learn/tackle-nacl

Love thy lake so it can be healthy enough to fully love you back! While there is no p**p fairy, there is a Lake Superior. But just one of them, so take a few small steps to take better care of it! **pFairy

Still need a Valentine? Look no further! 🤔👀

Let Lake Superior be your Valentine this year 😍 Show your love for our beautiful lake by remembering all the ways you can keep stormwater pollution from reaching your local streams, and ultimately Lake Superior. 🌊😘

💕 Keep your trash bins upright with the lids closed. Especially when snow or rain is in the forecast, secure your bins so they don’t spill garbage into the street. If it’s on the street, it’s in our streams.

💕 Pick up after your pet! Pet waste is full of bacteria and excess nutrients that we don’t want in our drinking water. There is NO P**p Fairy!

💕 Salt Smart! Road salt from roads and sidewalks is toxic to fish & other aquatic life. In some places, chloride from deicing salt & water softeners has greatly impaired the water & ecosystems. Keep Lake Superior Salt-Free!

⭐ These are just a few ways that you can show your love for Lake Superior, & ensure that our waterways stay clean & healthy. ⭐

➡ Learn a p**p-ton more by visiting https://www.p**pfairy.university/

**pFairy

Littering is for the birds. Literally. Don't let those crows turn you into a litter-er. Have a plan for your can so that it isn't an overflowing buffet at the curb for all your local neighborhood birds, critters, and creatures. - No P**p Fairy

It's not all p**p and parks for your favorite No P**p Fairy. I also like to tackle NaCl as well. Salt is a big polluter of our waterways, so do your very best to limit its usage. I don't want you to slip and fall, but I also am kind of a big fan, you know, clean, drinkable water. **pFairy

P**p Fairy University We get it. We don't want to slip and fall down in the winter either. But we also don't want to permanently pollute our lakes and streams with winter salt.

Hey, it is going to snow soon. I know it hasn't snowed much yet, but it is going to. And you are going to salt your sidewalks. But if you salted less, it would really, really help out our actual lakes, rivers, and streams. If you cut salting out entirely, there is a chance actual fish will come up and thank you. - No P**p Fairy **pFairy

Temperatures in Superior are forecasted to drop and snow will fly by tomorrow (Saturday)! 🥶🌬❄️

As temps drop, we begin to manage for ice and snow on sidewalks, steps, and roads. 👍 In our region, there are two main sources from which sodium chloride (road salt) gets into our water sources: our homes and roads. 😱

⭐ On warmer days when the snow melts, most road salt applied to sidewalks and roads is picked up by the stormwater and carried to the nearest storm drain. 😢 Most storm drains in the city connect our streets to our streams!

Consider these steps to reduce your salt use:
#1. Shovel first! Less snow means less ice & salt. ❄️
#2. Scatter smart! Use salt only where critical. 👍
#3. Switch to a different deicer because salt won’t melt ice below 15°F. Use sand for traction! 😃
#4. Sweep up & save any extra salt or sand to be used again.🙌

For more information visit WI Salt Wise https://www.wisaltwise.com/Take-Action/Smart-Salting

Mark your calendars for Winter Salt Awareness Week next month. Kick off your 2024 with a new focus on helping out the health of the watershed with a great lineup of experts. Just a little smarter salting and picking up your pet's p**p ... and you'll make a big difference. **pFairy

Announcing our 2024 Winter Salt Awareness Week line up!
Hilary Dugan, University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Limnology, Sawyer Bailey, AdkAction, Bill Hintz, University of Toledo, Bill Quackenbush, Ho-Chunk Nation, Jeremy Weso, Menominee Nation News, Laura Fay, University of Montana Western Transportation Institute.

Register today for a week of rockstar livestreams from experts across the spectrum of winter maintenance operations to conservation and freshwater ecology!
https://wisaltwise.com/Take-Action/Salt-Awareness-Week

Weekend plans? How about being in a game show?

Work up an idea on how to help with the health of our watershed - from education to promotion - and we've got some big prizes for you!

Game The Regional Stormwater Protection Team (RSPT) of the greater Duluth-Superior area needs your help generating new, fun ideas about how we can all be the best stormwater protectors we can be! The premise is simple; one idea = one raffle ticket.Send us your best idea, action, or public education topic...

Got an idea on how to promote the protection of our watershed? Join our annual game show and win big prizes with your great idea! **pFairy

Game The Regional Stormwater Protection Team (RSPT) of the greater Duluth-Superior area needs your help generating new, fun ideas about how we can all be the best stormwater protectors we can be! The premise is simple; one idea = one raffle ticket.Send us your best idea, action, or public education topic...

It is time for The No P**p Fairy Idea Generation Game Show! The watershed needs your awesome ideas about keeping it clean, safe, and protected from nasty pollutants. Plus, there are sweet, sweet prizes. Head to the PFU webpage below and submit your ideas in advance of the December 19 deadline! **pfairy

https://www.p**pfairy.university/

Don't let our fish friends gasp for breath amidst a sea of leaves! Leonard here knows the struggle. Keep Lake Superior clear, because no fish should flounder in foliage. 🐟🚫🍂

Learn a p**p ton more online:
http://www.p**pfairy.university

**pFairyOnDuty **pfairy

These drains lead to our cherished Lake Superior, folks! Keep them leaf-free and let's protect our waters from turning into a leafy brew. -NPF

Learn a p**p ton more online:
http://www.p**pfairy.university

Halloween's fright is not only the ghouls, ghosts, and goblins, but also the forgotten piles your pup leaves hidden by the night. For every vampire and fairy, let's keep our pathways clean so no trick or treaters step in what's unseen! -NPF

**pFairy

Think twice before those slippery leaves make their way to our beloved Lake Superior. We don’t want our pristine waters resembling a gloopy soup, do we? Keep those drains clear of lawn waste. -NPF

Learn a p**p ton more online:
http://www.p**pfairy.university

Goin' out with your pup for a nice autumn walk? Don't forget your essentials at home! Let's ensure the only surprises underfoot are beautifully colored leaves -NPF

**pFairy

Autumn strolls are best enjoyed without dodging doggy deposits. Let's keep the path clear and nature pristine. Always be prepared with a p**p bag - No P**p Fairy

**pFairy

Amidst the golden hues of fall, remember the golden rule: scoop up after your pup. After all, autumn leaves look better without any 'extras'. - No P**p Fairy

**pFairy

Fully endorsed by your favorite mythical being, The No P**p Fairy

**pFairy

Did you know that fall leaves can pollute our lakes & streams? 😲

🍂=☣️ If leaves & other yard waste are blown onto the street, the next rainstorm may wash them down a neighborhood storm drain & right into your local streams.

Consider these fall leaf litter tips & tricks:
🍁 Storm drains reduce flooding in neighborhoods and streets, not icky leaves!
🍁 Most rainwater runoff is NOT treated in Superior before entering storm drains and then local streams. Please be mindful of what you put in your yard or near the street.
🍁 You can be the solution to stormwater pollution! Remember to properly dispose of leaves & yard waste; WLSSD & Superior Landfill will even compost it for free!

✅ Pro Tip: Mulch or compost your leaves in a wooded yard to return the nutrients to the soil. Thank you for helping keep our region's water clean & clear. 💙

💩🧚‍♂️ Learn more from the **pFairy! https://youtu.be/rr-VfDHx8Eg

Wondering how to boost your business and uplift the watershed? Check out Mike at Auto Medics; sweeping up debris leaves him with a gorgeous parking lot for customers and cuts way down on the no-good stuff headed into the storm sewer and eventually our lakes and streams. There is No P**p Fairy, but there is a Mike. Be like Mike, keep your parking lot (and everything else) a bit cleaner. - NPF **pFairy

No P**p Fairy - Less Mowing, More Lounging The No P**p Fairy returns with a focus on giving you back some valuable time, while also adding to the health of the watershed. And yes, you read that correc...

The answer below is ... no. No, you wouldn't wash your car in Lake Superior. Because we all know that is ridiculous, let's also know that it is pretty much what happens when you let that soapy mess make its way into the stormwater system.

Treat yourself. Get a professional car wash. In a place where the treat water appropriately after it gets your car shiny clean. Oh, yeah, and pick up your pet's p**p, too. **pFairy

💧Did you know that washing your car in the street pollutes local lakes and streams?!

Storm drains and ditches are intended to collect rainwater after storms that direct stormwater to local streams and eventually Lake Superior. This includes polluted wash water from dirty cars. 👎😭

🦆 The dirt, soap, oil, grease, and other harmful chemicals washed from our cars can be toxic to fish and wildlife that live in and around our waterways. Have you ever tasted soapy water? Ick! 🤢

⭐ Treat yourself to a car wash! You deserve it. Your car deserves it. But the watershed doesn't deserve to be polluted in the process.⭐

➡ Pro Tip: To protect our water and wildlife from pollution, please wash your car over grassy or gravel surfaces. This way, the polluted wash water is absorbed by the soil rather than entering the local stream.

📚Learn more by visiting https://www.p**pfairy.university/learn/car-wash

🧽🪣🧼 Check out the Regional Stormwater Protect Team (RSPT) video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M84omwoA7v4

Where water falls - whether rain or snow - makes a big difference to the health of the watershed. Take a look below for a great session coming up on rain barrels and rain gardens as part of Wisconsin Stormwater Week.

WI Stormwater Week is coming up (Aug. 5th-13th)! Join Chris Schultz (Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District) and Megan Högfeldt (City of Superior) to learn how to install a rain garden and rain barrel and how these practices can reduce runoff and protect our waters.
Register today at https://www.wistormwater.com/toolkit/webinars