October – Partners for Clean Streams

Clean Your Streams and Storm Drains

admin — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 19:35:26 +0000

The trash and debris that is found during Clean Your Streams Day often unintentionally ends up in the waterways through storm drains. Storm drains are designed to carry only rainwater into streams and rivers, yet they often carry detritus, too. Without proper maintenance, trash and leaves can end up clogging our storm drains and creating problems. If you live near a storm drain, it is important to make sure that no trash or other materials are blocking it from functioning properly and inevitably carrying debris into our waters. Wet leaves especially can make it difficult for storm water to flow into the drains and reduce potential flooding. The first step to proper storm drain maintenance is being aware of where they are located. Each Spring, PCS encourages volunteers to assist in marking storm drains, so they are visible in the community and easy to identify.

The falling leaves this time of year are a beautiful sight but can create some confusion as to how to dispose of them. If you are unsure what the protocols are for leaf piles and pickup, check with your municipality for instructions. Some cities and town offer curbside pickup, while other residents are responsible for the dissemination of their property’s leaf piles. Most municipalities offer specific dates for leaf collection pickups that are separate from trash and recycling days.

But before you throw away or burn the leaves in your yard, consider the benefit they can bring your grass in the Spring. Dead leaves are an excellent form of compost and can decrease the need to use fertilizers on your lawn. The leaves on a single shade tree can save you $50 worth of plant food if properly composted. Leaves contain twice as many minerals as manure. With their deep roots, trees absorb the minerals from the soil that then spreads to their leaves. Here are some tips for making the most out of your dead leaves. First, shredding or grinding the leaves help them decompose faster and more efficiently. Adding nitrogen (1 part nitrogen to 4 parts leaves) increases the nutrient absorption for your grass. Turning the shredded leaves every three days helps to keep them from saturating the ground, especially after rain. Also, covering the pile with a plastic sheet traps the warmth and helps retain ideal moisture levels. So don’t let a good thing go to waste, keep some of your leaves now and your lawn will thank you later!

Upcoming Cleanups

admin — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 19:34:13 +0000

With Clean Your Streams 365, the cleanup doesn’t have to end in September! CYS 365 is a small-scale version of the annual Clean Your Streams Day and is available to any group or organization interested in doing their own cleanup throughout the year. We currently have three cleanups scheduled for October. Promedica has scheduled a cleanup at Otsego Park this month. Granger Island at Farnsworth Park is another site that will benefit from a cleanup by First Lego League team members from Sylvania. Owens Community College also has a scheduled cleanup later in the month as part of their Make a Difference Day. If you were unable to participate in this year’s Clean Your Streams Day, or are interested in continuing your efforts to keep our waterways debris-free, contact Partners for Clean Streams to schedule your own CYS 365.

21st Annual Clean Your Streams Day

admin — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 19:30:25 +0000

We would like to extend a huge thank you to the over 900 volunteers who made this year another successful Clean Your Streams Day! Despite the hot weather, volunteers at each of the 8 kick-off locations came ready to clean. All throughout the greater metropolitan Toledo area, our volunteers picked up trash and debris for over three hours. Their collections were tallied into data cards that we are currently compiling. Some unusual items found included: 80 baseballs, a typewriter, pink confetti, a tablet, a mailbox, and a plastic pumpkin. Without your hard work, these weird items would have remained in our waterways! We also want to thank Fred LeFebvre who MC’ed the Appreciation Picnic following the cleanup and got some great interviews with many of the participants.

According to our survey, 99% of volunteers felt that they made an impact in their community and in the environment. Almost half of volunteers who came out on Saturday were first-time Clean Your Stream-ers. We hope to see you again next year! Check out our social media and #cleanyourstreams419 for pictures and data posts in the future. Please send us your own pictures and memories from this day so we can include them. Without your dedication and hard work, Clean Your Streams Day would not be possible. We thank you and the waterways thank you, too!

21st Annual Clean Your Streams Day registration is now closed

admin — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 19:27:14 +0000

We would like to extend a huge thank you to the 960 volunteers who made this year another successful Clean Your Streams Day! Despite the hot weather, volunteers at each of the 8 kick-off locations came ready to clean. All throughout the greater metropolitan Toledo area, our volunteers picked up trash and debris for over three hours. Their collections were tallied into data cards that we are currently compiling. Some unusual items found included: 80 baseballs, a typewriter, pink confetti, a tablet, a mailbox, and a plastic pumpkin. Without your hard work, these weird items would have remained in our waterways! We also want to thank Fred LeFebvre who MC’ed the Appreciation Picnic following the cleanup and got some great interviews with many of the participants.