Here too, someone's been driving through the mud. Driving on the mud compacts the topsoil, making the soil less able to absorb water, thus plants won't grow. Sure, it may only be weeds, but weeds are allowing water to absorb into the ground. When the topsoil is compacted the water runs off and into the storm drain rather than eventually making it into the aquifer via the soil.
For years, I mocked the City using a bulldozer towing a giant rototiller for brush clearance on the large lots in the area. It turns out, it helped plants grow by aerating the soil. More importantly, the method helped the land absorb stormwater.
