Spooky Stormwater Surprises!

It seems every year around Halloween, scary sights start popping up, and this year is no exception in our water bodies! All of these sightings were caused by people and could be prevented, so do your part to keep our fish from getting frightened!

Oil slicks spread fast on pavement and end up washed down into Casco Bay. This oil will quickly spread on the water surface and leave a thin layer on a large amount of area. Fish swimming in the polluted water end up coated in oil, as do the birds who dive to get the fish. It’s important to clean up ANY oil spills, no matter how small, as a little bit can pollute a shocking amount of water!

This dog owner must have seen a ghost on Back Cove and dropped their dog waste bag before getting to throw it away! Since dogs have a much more artificial diet than other wildlife, their waste contains much more nutrients and bacteria than the ecosystem can handle. All those extra nutrients end up in the ocean, leading to large amounts of algae growth. This algae makes the water gross for humans to swim in, and challenging for fish to live in.

This stream has a terrifying amount of trash alongside its edges! Not only does litter make a place look ugly, it can greatly impact stream flow and aquatic life. Depending on the size, fish could mistake litter as food and end up choking or become suffocated. Do your part to keep trash out of our water by packing out all trash you bring in when visiting a park, and avoid littering throughout the city.

This #spookyszn, enjoy the treats, and keep the tricks away from our water bodies!