Frequently Asked Questions

No. Structures are prohibited within drainage and utility easements and city-owned outlets, which is where the vast majority of stormwater ponds are located.

When it rains, the water flows over lawns and hard surfaces that pick-up fertilizers, pesticides, dirt, bacteria and other pollutants as it makes its way through storm drains and ditches and is then captured in a stormwater pond to protect our lakes and streams. Due to the purpose of ponds, it is common for ponds to turn green over time. 

The pond may be green due to blue-green algae, filamentous algae or duckweed.

Duckweed is a plant that is a food source for waterfowl and actually helps with the water quality of the pond by removing nutrients. There is little you can do to remove the duckweed and it is unadvisable since this plant provides food and habitat for several different species.

The best thing you can do to prevent a green pond is to reduce the amount of pollutants from entering the pond. Resources for how you can reduce pollutants can be found on the What You Can Do To Prevent Stormwater Pollution page.

These signs delineate a boundary between private property and city-owned property. This city-owned land is kept as native as possible to provide habitat for wildlife, soil stabilization, and water filtering capabilities. The area should be kept in a natural state with no clearing, mowing, or vehicular traffic.

The vegetation adjacent to a stormwater pond/wetland is known as a vegetative buffer that is an integral part of protecting the pond/wetland ecosystem by filtering pollutants and providing adjacent habitat. The clearing and removal of vegetation in the buffer area is prohibited, except for selective clearing and pruning of individual trees and shrubs that are dead, diseased, noxious weeds, or hazards.