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The need for water is becoming a serious issue in today's world of drought and population increase. Water restrictions make it difficult to maintain green yards. Collecting stormwater runoff from our roofs is a natural way to make water available for your use in the yard. It can also help prevent erosion caused by downspout runoff. Plan to join us for a rain barrel workshop.
When: Friday, March 5, 10 am to noon
Where: The Upper Etowah River Alliance Office
180 McClure Street, Canton
(next to the Am. Legion and Fairgrounds)
Cost: $25, includes all materials (barrels are 55 gal) and assistance
Who: Anyone interested in collecting FREE water
Space is limited to 10. To sign up, call Diane Minick at 770-704-5479.
Future workshop dates: First Friday of every month, 10 am to noon
Forth Saturday of every month, 10 am to noon
Sponsored by:
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The Cherokee County Recycling Center has teamed up with Waste Management to bring many positive changes to the Cherokee County Recycling Center. The biggest change is the implementation of single stream recycling, which is where residents do not have to separate their recyclables before bringing them to one of the two recycling centers within the County. Another positive change that has occurred is now plastics #1- 7 are accepted for recycling. To view the Channel 2 Action News video about single stream recycling in Cherokee County, click here.
Effective January 1, 2009, the Recycling Center will no longer accept metals, appliances, tires or motor oil. These items will only be accepted on Amnesty Days in the Spring of 2009. Dates to be announced later. Recyclables can be dropped off at 470 Blalock Road, Canton, Tues-Weds noon to 6 pm, Thurs-Fri 9 am to 6 pm, and Sat 8 am to 4 pm, or at Hobgood Park in Towne Lake from 9 am to 5:30 pm seven days a week.
The annual Little River Clean-Up held on October 24th, 2009, hosted 62 participants. Volunteers picked up 126 bags of trash totaling approximately 890 pounds from 3 miles around Little River and Rubes Creek. Volunteers included citizens, girls from a Girl Scout Troop in Marietta and members of the Atlanta Outdoor Club.
THANKS go to the sponsors below for sponsoring these important events. A great boost for clean water and protection of our waterways.
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The 8th Annual Etowah River Clean-Up held on September 12th, 2009, hosted 53 participants. Trash was collected from the banks of the Etowah River and recyclables were taken to the Recycling Center. Of all the trash picked up along the river, Diane Minick, Watershed Director of the Upper Etowah River Alliance said,
"The oddest thing I saw was a drum with a ballet skirt on it. Also, bags and bags of shingles, probably containing asbestos, that were tossed under the bridge near the entrance to the park. The most gratifying thing was to see the number of students who came out. Many of them were from Crossroads High School and from Mrs. Shari Tolan's AP Environmental Science class of Cherokee County High School. Mrs. Tolan was UERA's 2009 Environmental Educator of the Year award recipient. It also seems as if every year we find less and less trash. That is a hopeful sign that more folks are getting the message about the importance of keeping our river clean."
THANKS go to the sponsors below for sponsoring these important events. A great boost for clean water and protection of our endangered fish species, the Etowah Darter, Cherokee Darter and Amber Darter.
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Stormdrain Stenciling
In October 2009, eight Girl Scouts from Cadette Troop 2199, participated in Cherokee County’s storm drain
stenciling program by stenciling 191 storm drains. Teams of four Girl Scouts and one
adult glued storm drain markers on drains for 2.5 hours in the Bradshaw Farms subdivision.
Stormdrain stenciling involves glueing drain markers or using stencils to spray paint the tops of drains
that catch stormwater in an effort to heighten public awareness that stormwater
drains directly into our lakes and streams. The Girl Scouts who participated in
the stenciling are eager to continue the project by training other Scouts throughout
Cherokee County and participating in future stenciling.
THANKS to the Girl Scouts
who helped make the storm drain stenciling a success!
If you or your group would be interested in participating in upcoming stormdrain
stenciling events, please contact Marjorie Hicks at 678-493-6077 or
mhicks@cherokeega.com.
And the winner is...
The 2009 Clean Water Campaign/Water Use It Wisely Essay contest winner for Cherokee County is Brittany Robertson, 7th grader at Dean Rusk Middle School.
Students who entered the contest composed a 300 to 500 word essay about ways in which citizens can participate in water conservation and pollution prevention both at home and in the community. The main goal of this program is to encourage students to create inventive solutions to water conservation and water quality in metro North Georgia.
CONGRATULATIONS BRITTANY!
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The two winners of the first-ever EPA water quality video contest were recently announced. In each of the categories, contestants entered videos aimed at educating the public on various water pollution issues and what the general public can do to prevent it. The winner of the 30-60 second video category was Lucas Ridley of Trenton, Georgia, whose video illustrated one way in which everyone can protect our watersheds through proper motor vehicle care. The winner of the 1-3 minute video category was Kelley Parren of Hinesburg, Vermont, whose video illustrated how runoff threatens our ecosystems and how everyone can do their part to help protect water quality. The EPA received more than 250 video submissions spanning a variety of topics related to water pollution. The two winners will receive a $2,500 cash reward and their videos have been posted on the EPA's web site. To view their videos, visit http://www.epa.gov/owow/videocontest.html.
Those involved in the business of water resources planning are keenly aware that ecosystem deterioration, water supply protection/conservation, waste load capacity, and loss of critical habitat for fish and wildlife are key issues facing the Lake Allatoona/Upper Etowah River Watershed. The economic environmental sustainability of the region is directly linked to protecting and preserving the priceless water resources of the basin.
Furthermore,
continued reliance on this critical water resource is intricately
tied to the ability of local citizens, businesses, interest groups,
and government agencies to develop mutually agreeable and realistic
approaches to managing the resources. Development and
subsequent implementation of this project make certain that
problems are solved at the watershed level.
For more
details, please visit: http://la-uewatershed.com/
Educational Resources for Teachers
To ensure that future generations do their part to help preserve the quality of our waters, they must be educated as to how they can do their part. Below are links/information for great resources for engaging your students in stormwater/water pollution prevention education through Language Arts and Science:
Fun resource for kids activities - for kids & teachers.
Adopt-A-Stream: Includes Cirriculum Manual
A great way to get students interested in pollution prevention is for them to have a hands-on, real world experience. One way to do this is through the Adopt-A-Stream program. If your class or school is interested in adopting a local stream, this site will provide you with a cirriculum manual. The GLOBE Program
The GLOBE (Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment) Program is a program founded by various US Government agencies
in an effort to promote and support students, teachers and scientists to collaborate on inquiry-based investigations of the environment. Students and teachers of "GLOBE schools" can gather information locally and submit it
on-line. There are various categories (including hydrology) for which studies and sampling can be performed. Not only will this make students aware of local water quality, but it will also further introduce them to the
sampling and research process. This is a great project for all grade levels especially high school students. SCIENCE WORKSHOP for Elementary Classrooms
Students learn about the water cycle while learning the harmful effect that pollution has on our rivers, lakes, and streams. This is a Be A Solution; Enviroscape Activity. Cherokee County has an Enviroscape Model that can be used for interactive classroom demonstrations and games. For more information contact Marjorie Hicks, Stormwater Coordinator at mhicks@cherokeega.com. Other Stormwater Education Web Pages:
Back to Top&
Check out the information on this website below and these links to other websites to learn how:
Do It Yourself
Household Water Assessment
Is Your Yard as Green as You Think?
Fascinating Non-Point Source Pollution Facts (PDF)
Composting, Grass cycling, and Mulching at Home (PowerPoint)
For
more information, visit the Clean Water
Campaign
Now what do
I do with this old can of paint? ...or used
motor oil, or batteries, or other Hazardous Materials.
Click Here to find out how and where to dispose of Hazardous Materials.
I didn't
know that could be recycled!!
Used Motor Oil Used Oil Filters Brake Fluid Transmission Fluid Antifreeze Car Batteries For the
location nearest you, visit
www.earth911.org/recycling and enter the type of hazardous
material and your zip code at the top of the page. Or call
1-800-CLEANUP Pump It Out! ... every 3-5 years Click Here to view a brochure on Septic Tank Maintenance.
Water Saver
Home describes itself as a virtual encyclopedia of water saving tips. Great tips on
water conservation and steps you can take around your house to
reduce waste.
EPA Construction Site
Stormwater Runoff Control
EPA Concrete Washout Fact
Sheet
Georgia Stormwater Management Manual
Stormwater Quality Site Development Review Tool (Excel File)
Be A Solution to Water Pollution! - Grades Level: 3rd-6th
The Sprink Stormwater Education Campaign
Stormwater Coalition
Construction Sites
Cherokee County Ordinances and Regulations
