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Fall Contributions of Phosphorus and Nitrogen in Stormwater Runoff through Weekly Street Cleaning

Open-File Report 2023-1061
Prepared in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and League of Wisconsin Municipalities
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20231061

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Abstract

This report describes a study that characterized reductions in total and dissolved forms of phosphorus and nitrogen in stormwater runoff through implementation of a municipal leaf collection and street cleaning program in two medium-density residential catchments in Madison, Wisconsin. One catchment was established as a control in which no effort was made to remove leaf litter and other organic detritus from streets. The second catchment served as the test catchment in which leaf litter was removed through a combination of biweekly leaf collection and weekly mechanical-broom street cleaning. Loads of total and dissolved phosphorus in the test catchment were reduced by 46 and 51 percent (probability less than 0.20), respectively, and total and dissolved nitrogen by 42 and 52 percent (probability less than 0.20), respectively, with an active leaf collection and street cleaning program compared to no program in the control catchment. Results from this study support an ongoing effort to characterize how various combinations of municipal leaf collection and street cleaning can affect nutrient loads in urban runoff.

Suggested Citation

Selbig, W.R., and Stenehjem, K.J., 2023, Fall contributions of phosphorus and nitrogen in stormwater runoff through weekly street cleaning: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2023–1061, 11 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20231061.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Acknowledgments
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Materials and Methods
  • Results of Calibration and Treatment Phase Analyses
  • Summary
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Fall contributions of phosphorus and nitrogen in stormwater runoff through weekly street cleaning
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2023-1061
DOI 10.3133/ofr20231061
Year Published 2023
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Upper Midwest Water Science Center
Description Report: vi, 11 p.; Dataset
Country United States
State Wisconsin
County Dane County
City Madison
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details