Fallen Leaves and Flooding: Grand Rapids Cleanup Tips

The leaves are starting to pile up and the City of Grand Rapids needs residents to help play a part in keeping our streets from flooding. Believe it or not, fallen leaves can contribute to flooding.

Leaves and Yard Debris Can Lead to Flooding

When leaves fall, they can end up in all kinds of places around Grand Rapids, from your yard and gutters to storm drains, ditches, and culverts. When leaves pile up, they can block the flow of water and cause flooding in streets, yards, and even basements.

The City of Grand Rapids has a few simple tips to help you manage leaves and yard debris. By managing your yard waste, you can help your neighbors and keep the city running smoothly.

How to Manage Falling Leaves in Your West Michigan Yard

As you rake leaves this fall, the City of Grand Rapids asks that you clear leaves away from nearby storm drains, too. Keep an eye on them throughout the season, and make sure leaves don’t cover the grates and block water from draining.

According to the City of Grand Rapids, below are some guidelines on how the city would like you to handle your yard waste.

Get a reusable 96-gallon cart for curbside pickup. Obtain a yard waste tag you can get from the city and attach it each time you want it empitied.
The city also has branded paper bags you can put your leaves in and set them by the curb for pickup.
Bundle your branches and twigs, making sure they are no longer than 4 feet and no thicker than 2 inche. Tag them and set them at the curb.
Rather than wait for the city to pick up your debris, you can drop everything off at the City Yard Waste Facility at no cost. The facility is located at 1500 Scribner NW in Grand Rapids. Hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

You can also compost your yard waste to help your lawn and flowers thrive next year.. Here are the city guidelines for building your compost.

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When Grand Rapids residents do their part by properly managing yard waste and keeping nearby ditches and drains clear of debris, everyone benefits. A little effort from each of us can go a long way toward helping prevent flooding and keeping our city clean.

👇BELOW: Identifying Fall Leaves👇

Identifying Fall Leaves

One of the best parts of fall is watching the leaves change as yellows, reds, oranges, and browns blend together like nature’s own painting. According to the Forest Service, scientists believe the changes are influenced by three things: leaf pigments, length of night, and weather. The original color of the leaves, along with temperatures and rainfall, also affect the shades we see, but the length of night is thought to be the biggest trigger. I’ve always loved looking at fall leaves, but outside of a few trees in my yard, I couldn’t tell you which was which, so I thought it would be fun to learn about some of the most common ones.

Gallery Credit: Ashley S.

9 Reasons to Leave the Leaves (and What To Do With Them!)

The autumn leaves are beautiful to look at but they can be a real headache when it comes to managing your property. Before you bag them up and send them to the landfill, read this to see why they are actually beneficial and what to do with them instead.

Gallery Credit: Kat Mykals