NEW! Environmental Education Resources for Home

Looking for ways to keep your children engaged and learning this summer and into next school year? We've made some improvements to the K-12 Education section of our website, including adding new pages with "Stormwater Lesson Plans to Download" and "Educational Activities for Home." Check out the linked videos, print some coloring pages, download a lesson plan, or browse our partners' sites for more ideas and inspiration.

Email stormwater@accgov.com if you are looking for a specific resource. We'll do our best to connect you with what you need!

Stormwater Best Practices for Summer

Summer is officially here, temperatures are rising, and most of us are spending more time at home. You might be thinking more about lawn care and home improvement projects. The Athens-Clarke County Stormwater Management Program urges homeowners to keep in mind some simple best management practices when using water this summer.

• Car washing – Consider washing your car in your yard instead of in your driveway. This allows the soapy, dirty water to absorb into the ground instead of going down a nearby ditch or storm drain.
• Garden care – Install a rain barrel to save water and keep your plants looking good. Athens-Clarke county has temporarily suspended Rain Barrel Workshops, but rain barrels can be purchased online from hardware or home improvement stores. Check out our DIY Rain Barrel Build Guide [link] if you’re interested in making your own at home.
• Lawn care – If your neighborhood association allows it, let your grass grow to at least 3 inches before cutting. Make sure to properly bag your lawn clippings for leaf and limb pickup. Pull weeds by hand.
• Composting – Start using compost in your garden instead of fertilizer or pesticides. Compost is nutritious for plants and helps you cut back on your food waste. Learn more at www.accgov.com/compost, and purchase a compost bin from Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful when you're ready to get started. 
• Follow ACCGov’s Outdoor Watering Schedule – Conduct your outdoor watering during the evenings to minimize water loss due to evaporation. Find out more at www.thinkatthesink.com. 
• No dumping anything down the storm drain – Properly dispose of household hazardous wastes, including paint and oil. Both can be recycled with an appointment at the Athens-Clarke County Center for Hard to Recycle Materials (CHaRM), located at 1005 College Avenue. Make an appointment at www.accgov.com/charm.
• Thinking of repaving your driveway? Consider installing permeable pavers to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff on your property.

If you have any questions, please contact the ACCGov Stormwater Management Program at 706-613-3440 or email stormwater@accgov.com.

Call for Photo Submissions

Any photographers out there? Stormwater Staff will be starting to put together the fourth edition of our Stormwater Calendar soon. If you'd like to submit a water or nature-themed photo to be considered for the 2021 calendar, please email it to stormwater@accgov.com with the name of the photographer, along with a brief description of where, when, and why it was taken. It might get published in our calendar!

Upcoming Events

Green Thumb Lecture Series: Getting Along with Garden Bugs
Wednesday, July 8, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
Online via ZOOM
 
Join Athens-Clarke County Extension for a free, educational webinar about garden bugs. This session will include an informative presentation on topics including insect ID, biology, behavior, the importance and value of some insects vs. the danger and destruction of others, and tips for insect control. Gardeners of all experience levels are welcome. Register in advance at www.accgov.com/gardening to be emailed the Zoom link.

Trashercise with Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful
June through October
Anywhere!

Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful challenges residents to complete their own "Trashercise" workout (walk, walk/jog, jog, run; trail, road, or wherever!) and keep your neighborhood clean. Bring a bag, some gloves or a grabber, and cleanup your favorite exercise route. Reserve tools and report your cleanup online at  www.keepathensbeautiful.org  or contact carlos.pinto@accgov.com if you’d like to borrow supplies.

Notice Dumping?

Call the Stormwater Hotline at 706-614-1282 if you see someone dumping into a storm drain or notice flooding due to clogged drains or pipes.