|  Stormwater:
What is it?
Every time it rains, water flows down the gutter into the storm drain and out to the creek. That’s stormwater. But, water flowing into our creek doesn’t just come from rain. Other discharges called “non-stormwater runoff” come from a variety of places, such as over watering a lawn, hosing down a driveway, and even washing a car. Often, stormwater and non-stormwater runoff contain pollutants that harm our creeks and streams, and the wildlife that live there. As rainwater and other discharges flow across the ground they pick up harmful contaminants like fertilizers, pesticides and dirt. When the rainwater hits our streets, the water mixes with waste oil, automotive fluids and plant debris. Unlike the wastewater we put down our sinks and toilets, stormwater flows to our waterways untreated. While many of us are familiar with the problems associated with chemicals like waste oil and paint in our environment, many do not know that things like sediment and yard waste can hurt our streams. Sediment fills in streambeds and disrupts fish spawning. Organic material like grass clippings disturbs the delicate balance of oxygen available to fish in the streams Stormwater pollution is now considered the most significant source of water pollution in our country. Past water pollution control efforts were directed at industrial sources and good progress has been made to reduce pollution from these sources. Now, residential and business activities impact water quality more than industrial operations. As land development increases, more area is paved and less rainwater can soak into the ground. This means there are more opportunities for stormwater, and the pollutants it carries, to enter our waterways. Therefore, urban activities create stormwater pollution that must be prevented or minimized. In compliance with state and federal requirements, the City of Roseville has developed a stormwater management program. Under this program, the City will educate and involve the community in stormwater pollution prevention, regulate stormwater run-off from construction sites, investigate non-stormwater discharges and reduce non-stormwater run-off from municipal operations. Back to Top
 Meet Trina Trout!
Hi, I'm Trina Trout. I am Roseville's stormwater spokesfish. As a resident of Roseville's creeks, I am an authority on the effects of stormwater pollution on our local wildlife. Non-point source pollution, or pollution that enters the water through runoff and other indirect means, is the nation's leading source of water quality degradation. In California, rainbow trout can be found throughout the entire coast and deep into the Sacramento and San Joaquin River systems. Our inland travel is limited only by migrational barriers like waterfalls and dams. We Steelheads travel extensively, spending long holidays in the ocean and coming back from the coast in the fall to spawn. But, because of all the alterations in the environment, sometimes we have a hard time getting home. Unfortunately, the Steelhead family is close to extinction. I have several cousins in the area such as the redband trout, golden trout and the less scrupulous cutthroat trout. We have lived in California since prehistoric times. My great, great, great, great grandparents, Thomas and Trudy Trout, came from the south and settled in these parts during the second half of the Pleistocene Epoch over 900,000 years ago. When I meet the right trout, I plan on having a small fry of my own. But I need a place that has a nice gravel bed without too much sediment to lay my eggs. You can help by sweeping down your sidewalks instead of washing them with water. This keeps all that dirt and oil out of our creeks. If we all do our part, we can keep Roseville's creeks clean for everyone! Back to Top | 
