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Stormwater Management
The Village of Elm Grove is asking for your help as we move forward toward our goals of cleaner water and compliance with our multi community joint DNR Stormwater Management permit. As part of our permit, we need to perform public education and outreach. To accomplish this in the most economical way possible, we have partnered with our fellow communities and engaged the Southeastern Wisconsin Watersheds Trust (Sweetwater) to do outreach to determine the best way for us to accomplish our goals.
So please take the time to fill out the survey and help us make our waterways great!
Thank You, David De Angelis, Village Manager
Menomonee River Watershed-Based MS4 Permit (PDF)
Sweetwater Outreach
As we move from summer to fall, many Elm Grove residents will start preparing their lawns and gardens for winter. Consider how these preparations affect the Menomonee River. Phosphorus and other nutrients that come from lawn care practices can lead to algae blooms that are detrimental to this local amenity! If you’re planning to fertilize your lawn, take a soil test first to find the amount and type that you need. Extra fertilizer can run off or erode away with bare soil, so make sure to apply during dry periods and only when and where needed.
Consider leaving grass clippings on the lawn as an alternative to chemical fertilizer. Mowing your lawn high and often makes it easier for the grass to capture the clippings and for the soil to absorb the nutrients. This also keeps the clippings from becoming a source of nutrient pollution!
You can help Elm Grove keep our lawns green- not our lakes! Learn more at https://bit.ly/yard-care.
Turf Management and Landscaping industries are an important part of Elm Grove. Not only do your products, services, and expertise help our community to enjoy the outdoors, but they can also be important tools for preventing stormwater pollution.
It is important to use proper management practices so that products associated with these services do not become sources of stormwater pollution. Mishandled fertilizers, soils, organic debris, or other materials can be washed into local waterways if they are spilled, stored, or disposed of in improper locations. Employees should be trained on proper storage protocols as well as protocols that protect themselves, customers, and waterways from spilled potentially hazardous materials.
To review important resources for ensuring that your services do not lead to stormwater pollution, visit www.respectourwaters.org/turf-management-landscaping. You can also find education resources for your clients at www.respectourwaters.org/facts-at-home to inform them of proper maintenance practices for the landscapes that you help them design, build, or maintain.