Flood Prevention

Rake Leaves Web Header

How you can help


Fallen leaves can block storm drains and lead to ponding and localized flooding in your neighborhood. You can help prevent this from happening by raking leaves and keeping them out of your street and storm drains. Here are some suggestions and safety guidelines:
  • Avoid raking leaves near the street where they can wash or get blown into nearby storm drains. 
  • Watch for traffic when clearing leaves out of storm drains. Work from the curb, not in the street, and make sure an adult supervises any children who are helping. 
  • Turn your leaves into beneficial compost. Autumn leaves are a great source of high-carbon material for your compost pile. Alternate layers of shredded leaves with the other materials you normally add to your compost pile (scraps from fruits and veggies, grass clippings, weeds, etc.) and let it sit over the winter. Whenever you think about it, aerate or turn the pile. Your compost will be ready to use by spring.
  • Shred leaves and use them as mulch on vegetable gardens and flower beds, around trees and shrubs, and in containers. Just add a 2" to 3" layer of shredded leaves to the beds, keeping the mulch from directly touching the stems and trunks of the plants. The mulch retains moisture in the soil, stays cool, and limits weed seed germination. 
  • Use a mulching mower to shred your leaves once a week until they have all fallen, then "leave" them on your yard. While the leaves break down during winter, they'll shade your soil and provide it with nutrients, which means fewer weeds to deal with in spring.
  • Hoard them! Save a bag or two of leaves in your garage over the winter. In spring, adding that brown material to your compost pile makes your compost just right for the season.
  • Make sure any landscaping companies hired by your Home Owners Association do not blow leaves into the street.
  • Help out your whole neighborhood by joining the Adopt-A-Drain program and agreeing to keep at least four nearby storm drains clear during the rainy season. 
  • Is raking not doing the trick? During normal business hours, please report clogged storm drains and flooding to 425-488-0118 (press 1) or online at www.bothellwa.gov/car. If reporting after business hours, call 425-486-1254. IF THE FLOODING IS AN EMERGENCY, CALL 9-1-1.

Click to enlarge

Keep leaves out of storm drains (JPG)

How we're helping


City of Bothell has over 8,000 storm drains. During this time of year, our Storm Operations crew runs both of our street sweepers seven days a week to help remove leaves from 306 lane miles of streets. Their efforts make a major difference in the amount of leaves left in the streets, but they can't be everywhere at once. We also need your help to keep the storm drains near your house clear before and during rainy weather.

How you can stay safe in a flood


Because of how much rainfall we get in the Pacific Northwest, flooding is a common regional problem. If your home floods, prepare ahead of time to reduce damage and keep your family safe:

Flooded roadway

Flooded Neighborhood Road (JPG)

Sign up for City e-News


Stay informed about community news, events, and workshops. Sign up here!
  • Store household chemicals at higher elevations to keep them out of flood waters, especially in garages, sheds, and basements.
  • Make sure any underground storage tanks are fully sealed and secure.
  • Have a plan and make an emergency kit. 
  • Have check valves installed in building sewer traps to prevent flood waters from backing up in sewer drains. 
  • Stay out of floodwaters, as they contain many things that may harm health.
  • After a flood, learn how to get rid of mold.
Values lighter colors (PNG)