Flooding & Erosion - Rake a Drain

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Rake a drain - you can help prevent flooding:

City crews will be working to keep storm drains clear, but with over 6,300 storm drains in Olympia, we could use your help! Use a garden rake or shovel and remove the leaves from the storm drain. Be sure you remove the debris off the street, or it will just return during the next storm.

Don't Rake Leaves into the Street:

Sand and other debris can clog storm drains and cause local flooding. See the below options for leaves; remember, your actions make a difference.

Have Leaves?

Please do not rake your leaves into the street , which adds to localized flooding. Instead, try one of the options below.

Options for Leaves:

• Turn them into Compost: Put sustainability into action – use your leaves for compost or mulch around your plants. When properly used as mulch or compost, leaves provide an outstanding organic matter and nutrients to the soil.
• Put them in Your Organics Cart: Put your leaves into your organics cart so they can be recycled and turned into rich reusable compost. Don’t have an organics cart? Call 360.753.8340 to sign up.

Looking for Leaves?

The City of Olympia has FREE leaves available for composting. There is a 5-yard minimum and they are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Please email publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us or call 360.753.8588 to learn more.

Sign up for Organics service:

Residents can sign up for the City's year-round Organics Service, or you can order a temporary yard-waste only container, which is charged on a per dump basis. You fill the containers with leaves, and then the leaves are taken to the Thurston County Waste and Recovery Center for composting.

Need Assistance?

If flooding is severe and you are unable to clear the drain, please call us at 360.753.8333, TTY 360.753.8270. We are here to help.

Contacting Public Works

• Contacting Public Works
• Physical Address: 924 7th Ave. SE, Suite A
• Mailing Address: PO Box 1967, Olympia, WA 98507-1967 (directions)
• Hours: M - F from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except for City-recognized holidays)
• 360.753.8588, TTY 360.753.8005
• publicworks@ci.olympia.wa.us