Overview

To keep people from dumping chemicals, paint and used oil into our storm drains, your classroom or household can adopt-a-storm drain on your street or school campus!

SYRCL’s RiverTeachers Program will provide all materials and training for you to:

Label the drain with a curb marker like the one shown to the right Clean debris out of the drain once or twice a year. Clean or replace your drain marker if it becomes marked. Distribute informational fliers to nearby houses and businesses (if you desire).

For teachers, we supply an activity from Project Wet Curriculum and Activity Guide that teaches your students about the movement of water and pollutants into our storm drains.

To adopt a storm drain, please e-mail carlyle@syrcl.org or call (530) 265-5961 extension 204.

What's the Big Deal?

Everyone values clean water. But a recent national Roper survey found that most of us still believe industry is the biggest source of pollution. In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency has found that more pollution comes from the wastes of our common daily actions.

When it rains, rainwater washes down streets and parking lots, driveways and sidewalks, roofs and yards, carrying water and everything it picks up into a ditch or a storm drain like the one shown to the right:

All over Northern California, drains like this are collecting rain water from our streets and yards. Sounds great, right? Here's the catch: The water that flows down these drains, whether it's clean or dirty, flows directly into our creeks and rivers. No cleaning, no treatment, just straight into our drinking water.

This means that lawn care chemicals, grass clippings, litter, pet wastes, used oil, and other wastes are dumped untreated into our waterways. Pollution and harmful bacteria go straight into our local fish habitat, swimming areas and drinking water.

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Fish on the Street

Starting in the spring of 2003, some little fish have been making big waves in Nevada City. Along Nevada City streets, cheery green and blue disks bearing the message “No Dumping, Drains to Deer Creek” and a drawing of three fish have been popping up next to our city’s storm drains. These markers will remind us all that pollution begins with these drains on the street.

It all began on Earth Day, when The South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL), the City of Nevada City, and Friends of Deer Creek teamed up to host a day of Storm Drain Labeling. Despite the threat of rain, many dedicated volunteers showed up and managed to label over 80 drains.

But it didn’t stop there. Since Earth Day, SYRCL’s RiverTeachers Program has involved hundreds of students from local schools in this fun community service project. Students from all over the County – anywhere from 3rd through 8th grade – were all enthusiastic about helping. “This was in amazing activity for kids to do real world things,” said Steve Darden, a fifth grade teacher at Deer Creek. “This is one way that they can shine and make a real difference for their community.”

Marcia Darden’s third grade class is no stranger to pollution prevention. This spring they raised steelhead trout in their classroom. Just a few weeks ago, they released their trout into the river. Keeping the water clean for their young hatchlings added extra incentive to these students. “I enjoyed labeling drains because I knew that I was helping keep the earth clean” said Teresa Anderson, a student in the class. “Now I hope that Deer Creek will be a lot cleaner.”

To Adopt a Storm Drain near you, please email carlyle@syrcl.org or call SYRCL at 265-5961 x204.

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YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
How else can you help keep our creeks and rivers clean?

When you're washing your car	When your pet goes on the lawn	When your car's leaking oil	When you're fertilizing your lawn	Household Hazardous Waste

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Local Storm Drain Pollution Prevention Resources

Nevada County Used Oil Recycling
http://new.mynevadacounty.com/oil/

Nevada County Household Hazardous Waste
http://www.wmgrassvalley.com/recycling/household/events.html

Nevada County Transfer Station Information
http://new.mynevadacounty.com/dots/index.cfm?ccs=534&cs=375

Yuba County Hazardous Waste/ Recycling Resource Page
http://www.sunsetscavenger.com/yubasutter.htm

Sierra County Public Works Department
(530)289-3201

EPA Stormwater Pollution Prevention Site
http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/pub_ed.cfm

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