What to Know: Tips to Keep Arlington's Waterways Clean and Healthy

Published on May 12, 2025

By Melissa Walker, Environmental Education Specialist

Working on your yard and garden? Now's a good time to remember that common landscape practices and the overuse of pesticides and fertilizers can harm our local waterways. As spring rains flow over yards and impervious surfaces like driveways, streets, roofs and parking lots, it picks up pollutants and transports them to our local creeks, streams and lakes. These materials are then discharged to our local waterways depleting oxygen levels, harming aquatic organisms and their habitats, and clogging our storm drain system.

You can help protect Arlington's waterways by following these tips:

• Never sweep or blow yard wastes such as leaves, grass clippings or tree limbs/trimmings into the streets, gutters, concrete channels or any waterway. Yard wastes will decay in our creeks and storm drains using up oxygen and releasing nutrients which can cause excessive algae growth. Yard wastes can also clog storm drains increasing the risk of localized flooding.
• Report Illegal Dumping – The community’s help is essential in catching and deterring illegal dumping into the storm drain system, creeks, streams and lake. Call the action center at 817-459-6777.  
• Compost and recycle yard wastes. This reduces the cost of chemical fertilizers and reduces stormwater pollution. Sweeping your grass clippings back onto your lawn provides vital nutrients to your landscape.
• Apply fertilizers or pesticides sparingly; Use a slow-release product, and/or a low toxicity product when possible. Remove excess fertilizer or pesticide from impervious areas such as driveways and sidewalks. Never apply fertilizers or pesticides when rain has been forecast!
• Read the Label! Select and apply fertilizers or pesticides according to the manufacturers label instructions. This will minimize harmful effects on non-target or beneficial species and reduce environmental hazards.
• Remember to properly store and dispose of all household and lawn chemicals. Clean up spilled chemicals quickly with sand or cat litter.  
• Develop an Integrated Pest Management plan using native and adaptive plants that require less water, pesticides and fertilizers.