Patty is a very active volunteer. One of Patty’s many volunteer activities is cleaning the storm drain in front of her house. She’s been keeping the drain and surrounding curbside clear since the 1970s.

In the fall, Patty generally fills up at least a 96-gallon bin every week with leaves and pine needles. Leaves and needles aren’t what we typically think of as water pollutants, but they can be. This organic debris contains lots of nutrients that feed algae. Excess nutrients in water can lead to algae blooms, which can be damaging to aquatic life. By keeping all this debris out of her storm drain, Patty is helping to protect her local water system. Her reporting also counts towards Blaine’s standings in the Anoka County Community Adopt-a-Drain Challenge, happening from March to October of this year. Every drain adoption and cleaning report gets the City closer to winning the challenge. 

Be like Patty and help clean up your local storm drain. You can get started at mn.adopt-a-drain.org. For more information, contact Abby Shea at [email protected] or 763-258-7305. Follow your local watershed and the City of Blaine on social media for Adopt-a-Drain updates.