Fairmount School Students Spray Paint the Streets

Bangor, ME— 4th and 5th graders at Fairmount School in Bangor are partnering with the Penobscot County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Bangor Area Storm Water Group (BASWG) and the City of Bangor to spray paint a important message on the streets.

Sample storm drain stencil.

The students will visit the neighborhoods around the school in Bangor on June 15, 2011 to stencil, REDUCE YOUR USE OF LAWN CHEMICALS, DRAINS TO STREAM on pavement near storm drains to remind residents that stormwater flows unfiltered to Kenduskeag Stream. The stencil also depicts a Rubber Ducky, which has become the symbol of stormwater pollution since the original “Ducky Ad” aired on television in 2005. This year a new advertisement featuring the red duck promoted safer lawn care, by encouraging Mainer’s to cut back on lawn chemicals, mow higher and leave grass clippings. In addition to stenciling messages next to the storm drains, the students will be leaving door hangers at houses to educate residents abut the project and stormwater.

Stormwater is rain that does not soak into the ground, but rather flows over the surface of the ground into the nearest body of water. As the water travels, it collects pollution such as pesticides, fertilizers, yard clippings, pet waste, loose soil, gasoline and oil. Storm drains act like funnels, transporting the stormwater from our streets and driveways directly into local waterways.

Chris Brewer of the Penobscot County Soil & Water Conservation District explains that there are many things we can all do to reduce stormwater pollution: “We are encouraging home owners to reduce or eliminate the use of lawn pesticides and fertilizers, pick up their pet’s waste, keep their vehicles well-tuned, and plant vegetation over bare ground and around bodies of water. All of these things dramatically reduce the amount of pollution entering our waterways, and improve water quality.”

The BASWG is a comprised of seven municipalities and other entities, working together to meet to make the Bangor Area a better place to live and work. For more information on BASWG and many stormwater friendly homeowner tips visit our website at www.baswg.org

6th Annual Regional Street & Stream Cleanup in Bangor Area

The Bangor Area Storm Water Group is looking for volunteers from our communities to help protect our local water resources at the 6th Annual Regional Street and Stream Cleanup. This is a great opportunity to get outside and enjoy the fresh spring air with friends and family, while truly making a difference in your community and for our environment. Kid and adults, local organizations, groups and individuals are welcome. Volunteers will meet for a short safety discussion before heading out to the designated cleanup sites. All volunteers will be provided with free T-shirts as well as gloves and safety vests to wear during the event.  After cleanup activities, groups will reassemble for a free BBQ luncheon and celebration of our volunteers’ hard work.

This event is a coordinated regional effort to clean up our local waterways and reduce polluted runoff. The cleanup promises to be a fun and socially rewarding event, each year focusing on different locations throughout the seven municipalities forming the Bangor Urban Area (Bangor, Brewer, Orono, Old Town, Veazie, Hampden, and Milford). Last year was our 5th annual regional cleanup, and it was a huge success with over 300 volunteers participating in the collection of trash along the Penobscot River and its tributaries throughout the region.

If you would like to volunteer for this year’s events please meet us at one of the following locations:

Hampden: May 7
9:00 am, meet at the Town Office Community Room, 106 Western Ave
Contact: Bob Osborne, 862-6527, planner@hampdenmaine.gov

Veazie: May14 
9:00 am, meet at the Veazie Salmon Club
Contact: Allan Thomas, 947-2781, arthomas@veazie.net

Bangor: April 23 – Shaw Brook & Outer Hammond Street 
9:00 am, meet at Sports Arena, 1640 Outer Hammond Street
Contact: Tim, 848-7095, pellet@gmail.com

Bangor: April 14 – Capheart Brook & Finson Road
9:00 am, meet at Assembly of God Church, 614 Finson Road
Contact: Wendy Warren, 992-4255, wendy.warren@bangormaine.gov

Brewer: May 14
8:00 am, meet at the Brewer Auditorium
Contact: Ken Locke, 989-5417, klocke@brewerme.org

Orono: May 14
9:00 am, meet at the Orono Town Office
Contact: William Murphy or Ruth Vaughan, 866-5051, wmurphy@orono.org, ruthv@orono.org


University of Maine: April 27 
9:00 am, meet at Fogler Library
Contact: Scott Wilkerson, 581-3049, scott.wilkerson@maine.edu

The Regional Stream Cleanup started in 2006 as a way to comply with the Public Education and Participation requirements of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection Storm Water Permit. This event is coordinated by members of the Bangor Area Storm Water Group, in conjunction with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Penobscot County Soil & Water Conservation District. All of the funds necessary to perform the event are raised locally through donations. No taxpayer funds are used for this program.