Scouts save fish, protect local streams
 Members of scout troop 548 took action in August to help protect fish in
Beaverton Creek and the Tualatin River. To complete his Eagle Scout project,
Southridge High School freshmen Solomon Rosen led an effort at the Beaverton
Transit center to install storm drain markers with the bilingual message, “No
Dumping, Drains to River.” Rosen and his fellow scouts partnered with Clean
Water Services, the city of Beaverton and TriMet to help remind people that
what goes into storm drains in Washington County enters the nearest river or
stream.
 By labeling the drains, they hope to discourage the illegal dumping of motor
oil, antifreeze and garbage. In addition, they want residents to realize that
when it rains, the accumulated water washes over streets, roofs, lawns, and
parking lots and picks up oil, sediment, bacteria, grease and chemicals that
can pollute our streams and the Tualatin River.
The storm drain marking program is part of Clean Water Services' Surface and
Stormwater Management (SWM) program that improves water quality, protects fish
habitat and manages flooding by enhancing streams and floodplains, maintaining
the storm system, and regulating activities that can impact the Tualatin River
Watershed. Since 1990, 2,350 volunteers have participated in the storm drain
marking program and have labeled over 6000 drains and hung over 22,000
informational door hangers throughout the Tualatin River Watershed.
Want to participate in this project? Email Karen DeBaker debakerk@cleanwaterservices.org or call (503)681-3643.
|
