Stormwater-quality data in the control and test catchments during the calibration and treatment phase of a leaf collection study in Madison, Fond du Lac, and Oshkosh, WI, from September 2016 through November 2019

The data set contains phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations and loads measured as part of a study to determine if, and by how much, removing leaves and other organic detritus from streets, through municipal leaf collection and street cleaning programs, could reduce nutrient contributions to local water bodies. Stormwater runoff was sampled in paired, medium-density, residential catchments during the fall. One catchment was established as a control in which there was no effort to remove leaf litter and other organic detritus from streets. The second catchment served as the test catchment in which removal of leaf litter was done through a combination of municipal leaf collection and street cleaning on a weekly or biweekly schedule. These data are interpreted in a USGS Scientific Investigation Report.