Wilson, NC

 

A major component of any successful regulation program is public education. The Stormwater Division provides workshops, classroom demonstrations, educational fair booths, and participates in a cooperative effort with other local governments to produce TV and radio announcements. Best Management Practices –BMP’s are structures or practices that best avoid and/or minimize impacts to water quality from development. The most widely recognized is a wet pond but there are several different types of BMP’s that treat stormwater in various ways and must be properly inspected and maintained.

• Public Involvement
  • Beyond public education, the Adopt-A-Stream program allows the public to become actively involved in monitoring, protecting, and cleaning up the waterways of Wilson.
• Stormwater Retrofits
  • As understanding of water quality increases and technology develops, it is important to apply new treatment techniques to existing development to reduce the pollution from these sites. The Stormwater Division works with county, state, and federal agencies for grants to install these retrofits.
• New Development Review
  • New development is one of the main sources of stormwater pollution.

 

               

The Adopt-A-Stream Program is looking for volunteer groups to walk, clean, and protect streams in Wilson. The program allows groups to adopt stream segments to help promote healthy clean stream environments in the City.

Groups should walk their stream reach at least twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall, to identify water quality problems. The groups should also conduct at least one stream clean-up each year along their designated stream reach. Stream clean-ups involve the physical removal of trash and debris from the stream channel to a nearby designated location for collection and disposal by the City. The City recommends groups to organize their clean-up to coincide with North Carolina’s “Big Sweep” in early October or Earth Day in late April and the City provides trash bags for the volunteer groups. Signs are erected to recognize the efforts of groups that adopt at least one half mile of stream within the City’s jurisdiction.

When volunteer groups perform their stream walks and clean-ups, each group is asked to complete and submit a Field Data Sheet, and notify the City of any pollution sources found. The City will investigate reported pollution problems to ensure they are eliminated.

The City is not responsible for injury to persons or property resulting from Adopt-A-Stream activities. Once a segment of the stream reach has been adopted, it is the responsibility of the adopting group to obtain permission from all adjacent property owners for stream walks and clean-ups. Educational door hangers describing the Adopt-A-Stream Program and its benefits to the environment are available from the City to notify property owners of the adopting group’s proposed activities.

Why Adopt a Stream?

By adopting a section of stream you are improving one of Wilson’s greatest natural resources –our creeks and streams. Every day litter enters our streams via storm drains and illegal dumping.

 With over 175 miles of streams, volunteers are needed to assist cleaning up this unsightly litter and report water pollution problems. One of the best ways to find problems is to get into the stream and walk the channel.

 To start the process read carefully through the information below. Email the Stormwater Environmental Specialist, to start looking for stream segments available to your group. Once a segment is chosen, a contract will be emailed to you.

Program Basics

• Groups are required to sign up for a minimum 2 year commitment to the program.
• A minimum of one clean up per year is required.
• Group size is best when kept at 15 or less volunteers.
• Groups receive road sign after first clean-up and return of data sheet.
• Clean-ups must be scheduled with the Stormwater division and if needed, reserve supplies.
• Vests, gloves, and trash bags are provided.

Things To Note

• April, May, September and October are the busiest months for clean-ups –schedule early if you want supplies!
• Remember to watch the weather. Streams rise rapidly and can quickly become unsafe.
• Trash must be left at the road/sidewalk in order for it to be picked up and EXACT location must be noted on data sheet.
• The name of the group on the contract will be what is put on the road sign. No websites or phone numbers are allowed.

For more information or to sign up, email Jose Valdovinos at jvaldovinos@wilsonnc.org, or call 252-399-2435.

 

The Adopt-A-Street Program is looking for volunteer groups. This is an excellent opportunity to make a positive impact in the community. Here in Wilson, we currently have families, civic groups, school groups, clubs, businesses and neighborhoods that have signed up to commit to keeping their local street clean. We recognize each group by installing a roadside sign with the name of the group that is responsible for the clean area. By keeping the streets clean, we can enhance the areas in which we work and live. In addition, by keeping the streets free of the trash, leaves, debris, etc. this will prevent our storm drains from becoming clogged with this debris, which in turn keeps our streams cleaner and improves our local water quality.

With 230 miles of City maintained streets, volunteers are needed to assist in keeping these streets in our community clean. The City will provide the group with all the materials needed for a clean-up as well as pick up and dispose of all the collected trash from the clean-up once the group notifies us that it is completed.

When volunteer groups perform their clean-ups, each group is asked to complete and submit a Field Data Sheet, and notify the City of any pollution sources found.

The City will investigate reported pollution problems to ensure they are eliminated. The City is not responsible for injury to persons or property resulting from Adopt-A-Street activities.

 

 Program Basics

• Groups are required to sign up for a minimum 2 year commitment to the program.
• A minimum of 2 clean-ups a year are required, however the City will provide support and materials for as many clean-ups as a group wishes to perform.
• Groups receive a road sign after first clean-up is completed and the data sheet is filled out.
• Clean-ups must be scheduled with the stormwater division and if needed, reserve supplies.
• Reflective vests, gloves, trash bags, rakes, shovels, brooms, and trash grabbers are provided.

 Other Items

• The most common months for clean-ups to take place are April, May, September, and October-schedule ahead for these months to make sure you have the supplies reserved that you need
• Remember to watch the weather
• Trash must be left at the road/sidewalk in order for it to be picked up and EXACT location must be noted on the data sheet

For more information or to sign up, email Jose Valdovinos at jvaldovinos@wilsonnc.org, or call 252-399-2435.