Why are grass clippings harmful to stormwater?
Yard waste contributes nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, which cause unwanted and uncontrolled growth of algae and aquatic weeds. Algae growth uses up oxygen in the water and may lead to suffocation of fish. Also, at the clipping decay, bacteria need oxygen during the decaying process. Large quantities of yard waste and clipping in stormwater and streams deplete the oxygen supply in the water that fish and other aquatic need too.
