Adopt Your Neighborhood Storm Drain 

The  Adopt-a-Storm Drain Program  is an effort to restore our area's rivers and lakes by looking upstream to where their water comes from. This program works to clean waterways by keeping the storm drains that feed them free from litter, leaves, and debris. Keeping debris away from the storm drains also reduces the chance of flooding in yards and homes in your neighborhood.

This program is designed to recruit residents, neighborhoods, businesses, community groups, and youth to take sustained action to keep storm drains clear and clean.

Adopt-a-Storm Drain Forms:

Volunteer's Role:

Volunteers will be provided with instructions to care for a storm drain or multiple drains on their street. Tasks include monitoring and removing debris from the storm drain(s) approximately once a week during the storm season. Hours will be tracked by the volunteer and submitted to the City after each clean-up or at the end of November.

Storm Drain Maintenance Guidelines:

  1. Wear provided volunteer t-shirt or bright colors.
  2. We recommend for you to clean storm drains weekly, and before and after storm events.
  3. Clean during daylight and do not clean storm drain(s) when cars are present.
  4. Clean gutter 5 feet on either side of storm drain.
  5. Clean from the curbside for safety. Sweep debris from the curb towards the road.
  6. Using a shovel, remove overgrown vegetation within 1-2 feet of storm drain.
  7. Collect and put trash in garbage or plastic in recycling. If you have a compost, collect leaves and grass to add compost.
  8. Hazardous materials (i.e. syringes) can be placed in hazardous material containers provided. For removal, you can also call the Superior Fire Department at (715) 394-0227. After hours, contact 911.
  9. To remove dead animals, call Public Works at (715) 395-7334. After hours, contact 911.
  10. Download the inspection form (listed above),  fill out online or print off. Complete form during each inspection and submit online or mail-in. 

As a Superior Resident...

Everything that happens within the boundaries of the City of Superior affects the health of Lake Superior. It’s important to not only do your part on your own property and neighborhood to reduce environmental risk to Lake Superior but to encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same!

The biggest threat to Lake Superior is the storm drain system-or more accurately the huge volume of water that runs off our rooftops, driveways, patios, sidewalks, and roads into the storm drain system when it rains.

This runoff washes trash, dirt, fertilizer, pesticides, road salt, dog poop, and other pollutants directly into the nearest waterway. Rain rushing down the storm drain system can turn the rivers and streams into raging torrents that scour the stream banks, and sends tons of sediment and pollution into Lake Superior.