About this Campaign
What is this campaign?
The City of Maple Valley is invested in protecting its citizens and local ecosystems. As part of a federal NPDES permitting process, the City of Maple Valley created this campaign with the goal of stopping the use of weed and feed products entirely by providing reasonable and effective alternatives.
Do you want to learn more about the City of Maple Valley’s Surface Water Management Program? Click here!
What is an NPDES Permit?
National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits are a part of the federally regulated Clean Water Act. Municipalities that discharge pollutants of a specific type will require an NPDES permit. In Washington State, the permits are administered by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The permits require assessment of water quality as a result of water pollution into various bodies of water like rivers, lakes, streams, and Puget Sound. These bodies of water are considered surface water.
Protecting surface water from pollution helps ecosystems stay healthy. Yard chemicals, specifically weed and feed, are a type of pollution. Pollution can negatively impact local ecosystems.
Pollution can make its way into stormwater (water that lands on various surfaces like lawns, sidewalks, and parking lots). Stormwater is not filtered before going into local waterways like Jenkins Creek and Lake Wilderness.
Why do the location and use of Weed & Feed matter?
When weed and feed products are used close to surface water, fertilizer and/or herbicides and pesticides not absorbed by plants or weeds in a lawn can be picked up by stormwater. Storm drains in parks and neighborhoods then carry water directly to local surface water sources without being cleaned. This can harm salmon, macroinvertebrates, and birds who inhabit local waterways.
Interested in purchasing Weed & Feed alternatives?
Show off your herbicide-free lawn!
Maple Valley provides free lawn signs for fertilizer and herbicide-free lawns. Please email ahill@triangleassociates.com to have us deliver a yard sign to you.