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)

Back to Top   

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.

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/

Back to Top