Yard Waste and Fall Leaves
Did you know grass clippings and leaves blown into the street during yard maintenance end up in storm drains and waterways? This causes problems in the city’s stormwater drainage system and can lead to flooding. It's also a violation of City Code and can result in fines.  

Instead of blowing leaves yard waste into the street try:
- Composting: Researchers found that mulching leaves in the fall resulted in a greener lawn and up to 80% less dandelions the following springs. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers it a form of recycling that prevents filling our landfills, helps prevent pollution, enriches soils and reduces the production of methane gas.  

- Mulching: Using a mower to shred leaves speeds up their decomposition. The shredded leaves make excellent mulch and can be used in flower or vegetable gardens as a natural fertilizer and soil conditioner. 

For more info, check out the Think Outside the Lawn: Managing Yard Waste & Landscape Debris brochure (pdf)

Other Ways to Think Outside the Lawn
- Stop erosion by covering bare ground with grass, gravel or mulch
- Direct runoff by installing swales or berms to slow waster down. Direct gutters and downspouts into green areas.
- Consider water gardens. The benefits include pollution control, flooding protection, habitat creation and water conservation
- Prevent blowing dust by covering gravel and dirt piles
- Consider a rain barrel. They divert water from our drainage systems and the water can be used to grow healthy and lush plants.

See the classes presented by the Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) available to watch online at ​https://wwwwww.csu.org/Pages/classes-events.aspx.csu.org/Pages/classes-events.aspx

Under the new City rules, residents that use sprinklers and other irrigation systems to water lawns and gardens may only do so three times a week. From May 1 to Oct. 15, landscape watering must take place before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m.

Residents may still water gardens or potted plants more than three times a week if they are using a handheld hose with a nozzle, a watering can or other handheld container or a low pressure, low volume “drip irrigation” system, such as a bubbler, drip emitter, in-line tubing or soaker hose.

Water customers can apply for a permit if they must break the rules to establish new grass or plants. They can seek a water allocation plan, as well, if they need more flexibility.

The rules will also prohibit residents from using water to clean sidewalks, driveways and patios, “except when cleaning with water is necessary for public health or safety reasons or when other cleaning methods are impractical or inappropriate.” Utilities customers will be barred from allowing water that’s meant for irrigation to pool on paved surfaces or accumulate in gutters and drains.

Those who break Utilities new Water-Wise Rules will be subject to a range of penalties. First-time violators will be issued a written warning, and any subsequent violations within a year will result in Utilities adding an additional $100 charge to that customers’ water bill.

Learn more and see the The Integrated Water Resource Plan at www.csu.org/Pages/waterwiserules.aspx

Read the Gazette article at gazette.com/life/new-lawn-watering-limits-coming-in-colorado-springs/article_6ad833b6-2378-11ea-a862-9b700d281858.html

Learn about what is happening to Colorado Springs during winter storms and see lots of tips on how to prepare, stay safe, and do your part at https://www.coloradosprings.gov/winterweather

Sign up for Colorado Spring Twitter alerts at https://twitter.com/springsgov/alerts

Peak Alerts are notifications sent through a software called Everbridge by public safety agencies in El Paso and Teller Counties.  Peak Alerts notify you of emergency situations that are a threat to life or property and are deemed dangerous by public safety officials.  Examples of emergency situations may include but is not limited to, natural or man-made disasters, hazardous materials incidents, missing persons, law enforcement activity impacting the public, evacuation notices, and more.

Peak Alerts notify you of emergencies that happen near your registered address(es) or current location (if you are using the Everbridge app).  To sign-up for these alerts, you must create an account with your contact information to include your address and at least one contact method.  The information you provide is protected and will not be used for any other purpose.  You choose how you want to receive these messages.  Messages can be sent via text, phone call, email, mobile app, fax, and more. When you confirm receipt of a message, the system will stop attempting to contact you. If you do not confirm the message, the system will continue to attempt to reach your other registered contact methods.

It is important to note that during an emergency, you should use as many forms of communication as possible to stay informed.  Stay tuned to news broadcasts, radio stations, social media, websites, weather radios, etc. It is recommended that you signup as an individual rather than a household as notifications will stop once a user confirms receipt of the message. If at any time you feel you are in danger, you should take whatever action you feel is necessary to get yourself to safety.

Sign up online at https://member.everbridge.net/index/1772417038942752?fbclid=IwAR3dnF2z9_qpMLsbTneHxDW-7DM2jlySQNXR2UOvw4O-13JLlvOJzOus5fo#/signup

​Receive push-alerts to your mobile device anytime you travel into an area of an active incident. You can download the Everbridge app here:  https://www.everbridge.com/app/