Stormwater Resources
Homeowners:
Stormwater runoff is one of the most significant, yet unnoticed sources of water pollution. Many stormwater contaminants are made up of common items used by most of us such as fertilizers, car oils and greases, yard clippings, soil and pet wastes. By practicing healthy household habits, homeowners can keep these common pollutants off the ground and out of stormwater. Adopt healthy household habits and help protect lakes, streams, rivers, and wetlands.
Helpful links
Clean Water is everybody’s business. To learn what you can do to make your home the solution to stormwater pollution, visit: https://www.epa.gov/npdes/npdes-stormwater-pollution-additional-documents
Your positive actions can help protect clean waters. To learn more about how you can keep water in Jefferson County, and New York State, clean for drinking, swimming, and fishing, visit: https://www.dec.ny.gov/public/43661.html
More sustainable, and beautiful, alternatives to a grass lawn: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/more-sustainable-and-beautiful-alternatives-grass-lawn
GUIDE FOR HOMEOWNERS
Businesses
Stormwater may become contaminated by industrial activities as a result of contact with materials stored outside, spills and leaks from equipment or materials used on site, contact with materials during loading, unloading or transfer from one location to another, and from airborne contaminants.
Helpful links
Before commencing construction activity, the owner or operator of a construction project that will involve soil disturbance of one or more acres must obtain coverage under the State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) General Permit for Stormwater Discharges from Construction Activity. To learn more about the requirements, visit: https://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/43133.html
Businesses are turning to Green Infrastructure to craft a “green brand” : https://www.urbanstrong.com/green-infrastructure-green-brand/
Green Infrastructure information and funding opportunities: https://www.greenbusinessbenchmark.com/archive/green-funding-and-financing
Teachers
As a teacher, you can help foster the next generation of environmentally literate, stewardship minded citizens and professionals in your community. Resources and hands on activities are available that align with NYS learning standards and can help you teach your students about water quality issues and how to take care of our water and natural resources.
Helpful links
NYSDEC and NY Sea Grant launched a website for teachers and educators in NY’s Great Lakes basin to access resources, including curriculum, information about issues, organizations, and hands on activities to integrate Great Lakes literacy and stewardship into classrooms. To access these resources, visit:
https://seagrant.sunysb.edu/articles/t/new-york-s-great-lakes-ecosystem-education-exchange
Teach Engineering curriculum for k-12 educators, storm water lesson plans: https://www.teachengineering.org/curriculum/browse?q=stormwater
US EPA Lesson Plans, Teacher Guides and Online Resources for Educators: https://www.epa.gov/students/lesson-plans-teacher-guides-and-online-resources-educators
DEC has environmental education programs and resources that will help everyone become a better steward of the environment. https://www.dec.ny.gov/26.html
SW CARES
Each spring Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District visits local schools to teach fourth graders about stormwater, climate change, and what they can do to help.
Lessons start with a review of concepts— like eosion, photosynthis, and the water cycle— before teaching new concepts including the carbon cycle, watersheds, and reforestation. After this engaging multimedia presentation students are lead outside to discover their school’s stormwater infrastructure with new eyes and earn how to plant tree seedlings. Each student is sent home with a goodie bag containing their own tree seedling to plant at home.
Contact Jefferson County Soil and Water if your classroom may be interested!
Coalition Resources
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