Many cities around the world have built or installed litter traps in their rivers, lakes, and stream in order to capture litter that makes its way through storm water systems.

Whenever someone throws a cup on the ground, lets a grocery bag fly away in the wind, or leaves their McDonald's trash in the park some of it winds up in our water systems. Not only do these water systems provide habitats for animals, but they also provide our drinking water, and a great deal of fun and recreation.

Trash pollutes our environment, and puts a damper on our fun at the lake.

Litter Traps catch rubbish as they enter our large bodies of water. Melbourne, Australia has them install on the Yarra, and I'm sure many US cities have them as well.

They can't be too expensive. Not only do they catch the trash, but they make it obvious how much we're simply throwing into our environment. By people seeing these traps filled with trash, they'll be less likely to throw their trash on the street in the future.

VIDEO: The video is an example of just one kind of litter trap, in the UK. There are many kinds, so we have flexibility.

The tornado path crosses many storm drains, Forest Lake, and a few ditches. Since we have to go through and rebuild, clean, and repair, why not go ahead and install some traps? It would be cheaper in the long run, and you'll also be creating a more healthy and beautiful environment. Not to mention how much this could help reconstruction.