*** To Report a Stormwater Complaint: Click Here or call 678-493-6077 ***

  • CURRENT EVENTS
  • EDUCATIONAL INFO





Other Sites:
Cherokee County Recycling Center
Lake Allatoona Preservation Authority
DNR Sustanibility Division
Upper Etowah River Alliance
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
Metro North Georgia Water Planning District
Clean Water Campaign
Georgia Native Plant Society
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)





2011 Etowah River Canoe Trips


Join us on the Etowah River in 2011 for family friendly canoe trips sponsored by the Upper Etowah River Alliance! Little or no experience is required and all equipment will be provided, or you may bring your own for a small transport fee. It is suggested that you bring lunch, water sun block, hat, change of clothes, camera, shoes that can get wet and snacks. For more information, contact Diane Minick at 770-704-5479 or e-mail her at dminick@etowahriver.org.

Trips will be on September 17 and October 22 & 29.


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2011 Etowah River Clean-Up: October 1

When: October 1, 2011 at 9:00 am
Where: Boling Park, Canton


2010 Etowah River Clean-up a Great Success!
The 2010 Etowah River Clean-up that took place on October 2, was a great success! There were 80 volunteers totaling 175 volunteer hours cleaning up 3 miles of the river. Volunteers filled 49 bags of trash with plastic bottles, plastic bags, cans, etc. as well as picking up 7 tires, 3 chairs, a large plastic box, a 55-gallon drum and some metal fencing. Trash collected was taken to the Cherokee County Recycling Center.

Both individuals, families and groups participated in the clean-up – the Canton Rotary Club, and groups from local schools - Cherokee, Etowah, and Woodstock High Schools and Crossroads Middle/High School. We also had some folks come from quite a distance - the Atlanta Outdoor Club and students from Atlanta for the Walden University Global Day of Service.

Thanks to all the volunteers for their great efforts!




ADOPT-A-STREAM Class Taught at Etowah Clean-Up
An Adopt-A-Stream Biological workshop was taught at the Etowah River Clean-up to a group of students from Woodstock High School. The students are members of Mrs. Forsyth's W.A.T.E.R. (Woodstock Always Takes Environmental Responsibility) group. Students learned about the tiny water insects called “benthic macroinvertebrates” that live in local creeks, streams, and rivers. The workshop teaches students about how sampling is done, what to look for, and the goals of Adopt-A-Stream. The class ends with a test on identification of the tiny water insects.


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2011 Cherokee County Stormdrain Stenciling



Austin Garlinghouse is doing his Boy Scout Eagle project in the Towne Lake Parkway area, in the subdivisions of Towne Lake Hills South and The Arbors. This project entails putting “No Dumping – Drains to Stream” medallions on storm drains to make people aware of the dangers of dumping oil, yard waste, pet waste, and/or other garbage into a storm drainage system. It also harms or kills wildlife. Austin’s Eagle project will take place Saturday, October 22nd at 9:00 Am, in the pool parking lot of Towne Lake Hills South. The pool is located at the corner of Towne Lake Hills South Drive and Lexington Avenue. And remember… You dump it, you drink it! Ausatin's article on stormdrain stenciling is as follows:

Have you ever wondered where water goes after it ‘disappears’ into a storm drain? Storm water in Cherokee County is not treated at a wastewater plant, but is discharged directly into the creeks, rivers, and streams. Each time it rains, water washes over our streets, driveways, and yards picking up pollutants along the way and flowing into our storm drains. This runoff may contain pollutants such as motor oil, yard clippings, pet waste, litter, lawn chemicals, anti-freeze, or other toxins, which can pollute our water supply as well as clog pipes and culverts which can lead to flooding. Known as “Non-Point Source Pollution”, it is the largest threat to our waterways today. Sometimes pollutants are dumped directly into storm drains by neighbors who don’t know any better. Contrary to popular belief, most storm drains are not connected to wastewater treatment systems. Whatever enters the drain is discharged directly, untreated into local waterways!

How can you help? You can help by using the following tips to prevent pollution:

*Properly dispose of hazardous waste and recycle used motor oil.
*Keep yard waste grass clippings, leaves, and trash, and dirt off the street and out of the gutters.
*Clean up after your pets.
*Wash your car at a car wash facility or park your car in the grass before you wash it. *Spread the word about protecting our waterways from polluted runoff.

Also, report abuse to: Call 678-493-6077 or by going to http://stormwater.cherokeega.com/

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2010 Clean Water Campaign/Water Use It Wisely Essay Contest
And the winner is...

The 2010 Clean Water Campaign/Water Use It Wisely Essay contest winner for Cherokee County is Jessica Keeney, 7th grader at Mill Creek Middle School.

Sixth, seventh and eighth graders in the Metro Water District Counties were invited to participate in the annual Clean Water Campaign/Water Use It Wisely Essay Contest promoting better water quality and water conservation practices in the metro Atlanta area. Students 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. The contest is open every year to students in Bartow, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Hall, Henry, Paulding and Rockdale Counties. If you are intersted in participating in future essay contests, click here.

CONGRATULATIONS JESSICA!


Clean Water Campaign
Water Use It Wisely


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Single Stream Recycling at the Cherokee County Recycling Center


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 below:


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.

How Does Recycling Help Prevent Stormwater Pollution?
Common forms of litter (or trash) include aluminum cans, plastic bags and bottles, paper products, used food containers and more. Litter can collect on top or inside of storm drains causing potential flooding by not allowing water to enter fast enough during a storm. Smaller debris can wash into storm drains that drain to rivers, lakes and streams. When liter is washed in to creeks and streams, it can harm aquatic life. Small amounts of litter from your home or neighborhood add up to a big problem when it comes from an entire metro area. This pollution can have harmful effects on drinking water supplies, recreational use and wildlife. By recycling, not only are you helping to keep litter from blocking storm drains and getting into waterways, but you are also helping to reduce the amount of trash going to landfills.


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Cherokee County is a Sponsor of the Lake Allatoona/Upper Etowah River Comprehensive Watershed Study

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/


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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:


U.S. EPA - Water for Kids

Fun resource for kids activities - for kids & teachers.



Art/Poetry Contest:

   



Project Wet:



Adopt-A-Stream: Includes Curriculum 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
Be A Solution to Water Pollution! - Grades Level: 3rd-6th

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:
The Sprink Stormwater Education Campaign
Stormwater Coalition

 


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Preventing Stormwater Pollution: Do Your Part to Help!

Check out the information on this website below and these links to other websites to learn how:

Do It Yourself Household Water Assessment

When it Rains, It Pollutes!

Septic Tank Maintenance

Pet Waste

Do It Yourself Auto Repair

Is Your Yard as Green as You Think?

Rain Gardens

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.


    Stormwater FAQ

    To visit the Clean Water Campaign's web page with frequently asked questions about stormwater, click HERE.


    Conserving Water

    H2OUSE - Water Saver Home

    Water Saver Home describes itself as a virtual encyclopedia of water saving tips.

     

    Water - Use It Wisely!

    Great tips on water conservation and steps you can take around your house to reduce waste.


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    Construction Sites

    EPA Construction Site Stormwater Runoff Control

    EPA Concrete Washout Fact Sheet




    Cherokee County Ordinances and Regulations

    Georgia Stormwater Management Manual

    Stormwater Quality Site Development Review Tool (Excel File)


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