Yard Clippings and Your Creek Bank, Halloween Safety Tips, Fall Leaves, Goblins' Parade,

Yard Clippings and Your Creek Bank

There are several reasons dumping yard clippings onto the creek bank is not a good idea. Although one pile does not seem like it could become a serious issue by itself, if everyone who lives along a creek allowed these conditions to exist, the overall result could have a serious impact. Yard clippings that are dumped onto creek banks can result in erosion, flooding, and even depleted oxygen levels. Please never dump leaves, grass clippings, or prunings onto creek banks or into the creek.

Erosion:  Yard debris inhibits the growth of healthy bank vegetation, leaving the bank vulnerable to erosion. Creek banks are held together by the roots of the vegetation growing on them, and when the roots die off, the creek bank is only as strong as the soil underneath. When this happens, rain that washes over the creek bank, along with the shear stress of the creek’s flow, will in time cause the bank to erode away. Always try to keep your creek bank vegetated. A list of native vegetation appropriate for Marin County creek banks is available from Marin County Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (www.mcstoppp.org).

Flooding:  Any prunings or branches that have been tossed onto the creek bank take an exceptionally long time to decompose. It is very likely that before they are able to decompose either rain or high flow levels will wash this material into the creek. This material could then form a blockage, which could result in flooding. Just a couple of branches may not cause an obstruction by themselves, but when combined with natural sources from the rest of the creek, a major obstruction could result at bridges and culverts.

Oxygen Levels:  It is also very likely that rain or high flow levels will wash yard clippings off the creek bank and into the creek flow. Although leaves and organic waste are biodegradable, excess nitrogen that is produced by decomposing material can reduce the levels of oxygen needed by fish and aquatic life. The more decomposing vegetation is present, the more nitrogen is introduced to the creek.  This results in a lack of oxygen and can kill fish and other aquatic life.

Please compost leaves, grass clippings, and other organic waste away from the creek, or have them hauled away by Marin Sanitary in your green cart.

Halloween Safety Tips

The Marin County School/Law Enforcement Partnership offers the following Halloween tips:

• Consider fire safety when decorating.  Don’t overload electrical outlets with holiday lighting or special effects, and don’t block exit doors.
• Always keep jack o’lanterns and hot electric lamps away from drapes, decorations, flammable materials or areas where children will be standing or walking.
• Supply flashlights for all Trick-or-Treaters and escorts.
• Accompany young children on their neighborhood rounds.
• Remind Trick-or-Treaters to stay in a group, stay in well-lit areas on sidewalks or at the farthest edge of a roadway (facing traffic), and obey all traffic rules.

Fall Leaves

With fall here, the Public Works Department would like to remind all residents to keep curb areas free of leaves and other debris.  It’s easy to get rid of once it’s picked up – our garbage company provides pickup of yard waste in cans or boxes for all customers.

Please don’t just rake leaves into your curb area, hoping that the street sweeper will come by and pick them up.  The sweeper can’t cover the entire town, and leaves left in curb areas will clog drains quickly when winter rains arrive.

And, as a reminder, the Town has an ordinance that limits the use of motorized leaf blowers to Monday, Thursday and Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Residents who pick up their leaves, keep an eye on neighborhood drains and clear clogs during storms will help to keep winter storm water flowing where it’s supposed to be.

Goblins’ Parade

San Anselmo kids ages 0 to 7 years are invited to stroll down San Anselmo Avenue for the annual Goblins' Parade.  The parade will be held on Tuesday, October 29, from 5 to 7 p.m.   Goblins' will meet at the U. S. Bank at the corner of Woodland and San Anselmo Avenues.  The parade will go from the U. S. Bank to the fire station at 777 San Anselmo Avenue where refreshments will be served.

Volunteers in kid-friendly costumes are needed to help hand out goodies to the children.    If you can help, or if you need more information about the parade, contact Dana at 258-4669 or dgibson@townofsananselmo.org. 

San Anselmo News, published weekly on Fridays, is available at the San Anselmo Town Hall, Library, on the Public Notice Bulletin Board. It is also available on the Town’s website, www.townofsananselmo.org, and by email subscription.