Wolf Creek Watershed Volunteer Stream Quality Monitoring Program

Many citizens think the street gutter drains go to a treatment plant. But the runoff that goes into these is not part of the sanitary sewer system. They are inlets to the storm sewer system that drains directly to the nearest creek, stream or river, without water treatment. If you live in Brookville, Clayton, Trotwood, Englewood, or West Dayton, anything that goes into the storm drains in your street ends up directly in Wolf Creek.

So please don't rinse paint brushes, dump used motor oil, or put anything down these drains that will harm the aquatic life of Wolf Creek. After all, it is connected to our drinking water sources also, through the very large underground Miami Valley Buried Aquifer.

The Wolf Creek Stream Team is involved not only in direct monitoring of the waters of Wolf Creek, but also in local resource issues that affect water quality. One of our outreach tools is marking storm drain catch basins with heavy duty decals like this:

Boy Scout Troop 55 of Englewood, advised by Stream Team member Mary Ann Moore, marked 24 catch basins in the city of Brookville on July 1st, 2003. Many thanks to Brookville Assistant City Manager Ron Brandt for helping to coordinate our outing.

Andy Handwerker and Jimmy Fritchman apply adhesive to the marker to attach it to the top of the catch basin.

Andy and Jimmy join Andrew Moore and Stephen Griffin to admire their handiwork.

Stream Team member Deb Hull explains to a neighboring Brookville Resident about the importance of the storm drain marking project.

The colorful markers draw the attention of passersby to Citizens' responsibility to clean water in Wolf Creek.

On September 5th, 2003, Five of our Stream Team Volunteers participated in Wolf Creek Watershed sign installations around Trotwood. The signs are meant to educate passersby about watersheds and include a phone number for more information.

If you have a volunteer group interested in a service project related to protecting water quality, we can work on organizing a similar outing in West Dayton, Trotwood, Englewood, or Clayton. If interested, contact Caroline McColloch at Montgomery Soil and Water Conservation District:
(937) 854-7645 or caroline-mccolloch@oh.nacdnet.org