Special Event
October 19, 2004
The Butler County Storm Water District recently conducted a Stream Clean-Up on a quarter mile stretch of Indian Creek just south of Millville in Ross Township. This portion of Indian Creek was targeted for the project after discovering a large amount of trash and other waste from the U.S. 27 bridge in Millville. This stretch of stream receives runoff from several urban storm sewers as well as illegal dumping by some Millville residents. The project was organized and executed by the Butler Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) and much of the physical labor was provided by Environmental Action Alliance of Oxford. Environmental Action Alliance is a volunteer activist organization comprised of students from Miami University who have keen interest in protecting local environmental resources. Their volunteer effort in this project was outstanding.
During the clean-up, volunteers collected five 55-gallon bags of trash, one 55-gallon bag of plastic recyclables, one 55-gallon bag of aluminum recyclables, over 200 pounds of scrap metal, a 10-foot long cable wire, three tires, one car battery, and over 50 pounds of dirty diapers!!
The trash was properly disposed in waste receptacles at the Butler SWCD while members of Environmental Action Alliance took many of the recyclables back to Miami University’s Recycling Center. Miami University was recently recognized as national award winner of “Recycle Mania” by the US EPA.
Stream clean-ups such as these are labor intensive, yet simple best management practices (BMPs) to improve water quality in urban and suburban settings. Stream clean-ups are an excellent method to allow local citizens a chance to see and experience their rivers and streams, while at the same time providing citizens with the opportunity to see the destruction and impairment that a few local citizens are placing on water quality in their communities.
These efforts help to meet public participation and outreach criteria goals set forth by the Ohio EPA’s Phase II Program.
