Pick up after Fido!

Dog poop is a leading cause of stormwater pollution. Read the facts. They’re eye-opening!


Keep our creeks clean.
Clean up after your dog!

Dog poop is a major contributor to stormwater pollution. Rain and melting snow flows across yards, dog parks, down trails, etc. on its way to creeks via our streets and storm drains. Dog poop contains bacteria and is high in nitrogen and phosphorus (nutrients that negatively affect our waters).

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The Impact

Pets and urban wildlife are major sources of water contamination because pet waste contains harmful bacteria and parasites. Dog feces can contain fecal coliform bacteria, which can spread diseases like Giardia, Salmonella, and Campylobacter, causing serious illness in humans.

You Can Make a Difference

In Boulder County, there is one dog for every three people. You can make a difference by being a responsible pet owner. Be prepared. Carry bags with you to pick up pet waste. It’s a good idea to carry a few extras with you in case you meet someone in need. Collect your pet’s poop in a bag and deposit it in a trash can, or dump the poop in the toilet without the bag. Do NOT leave bags on the side of trails—there isn’t anyone designated to pick them up! Routinely pick up your pet’s waste (or hire someone to do so) so you’re not contributing to decreased downstream water quality.

The Facts

Dog waste is cited as the 3rd or 4th largest contributor of bacterial pollution in urban watersheds.

The average dog produces approximately 3/4 pounds of poop every day. 1,000 dogs will produce 750 pounds of excrement a week. There are approximately 30,000 dogs in the city of Boulder alone. That’s a lot of poop! Do your part- pick up after your dog. It’s the neighborly thing to do!

Dog feces have higher phosphorous concentrations than found in cow and swine manure. Phosphorus is a nutrient that negatively impacts water quality and plant species. Nitrogen, found in dog urine, also causes contaminated runoff and leads to serious water quality issues.

“Keep it clean, ‘cause we’re all downstream!”

Keep Your Trails Clean and Safe

It’s important to keep our local trails clean and safe for everyone to enjoy but did you know it also protects water quality? Picking up dog waste keeps it from washing into our streams and it’s actually the law! Make sure you know all the rules about dog waste and the new voice and sight requirements for Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP).  To learn more, visit voiceandsight.org and remember to pick up after your dog!