River Rally attendees listen as EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson speaks at the River Rally 2012 in Portland, Oregon.

From May 4-7, over 700 national and international environmental advocates came together in Portalnd, Oregon to share best practices for watershed restoration, stormwater management, water quality monitoring, water and energy conservation, green infrastructure, habitat restoration, safe drinking water and more.

Keynotes were presented by Lisa Jackson, Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Alexandra Cousteau, National Geographic Emerging Explorer and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Senior Attorney for Natural Resources Defense Council and the President of Waterkeeper Alliance.

This was an experience unlike any other and an event that we were proud to sponsor. We look forward to seeing many old and new friends at the next River Rally!

Home to one of our Bandalong Litter Traps, the Arkansas River underwent the 11th annual river clean up on April 21st. Volunteers from all over the state pitched in to help remove trash and debris from the river and the river’s banks. This clean up was registered with “American Rivers” as part of the National River Cleanup Initiative.

Read more here…

In Eastern Kentucky, 300 volunteers came out on a cold, rainy Saturday to help clean the trash from their beautiful rivers and lakes. This year’s Laurel River Lake Clean Up event marked the 24th year that this event has taken place. Each year, the clean up takes place the Saturday before Earth Day. The event was started with the U.S. Department of Forestry and 15 years ago, PRIDE (Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment) got involved.

Read more here…

More than 4000 volunteers came together in Wisconsin to dedicate their time to cleaning up their beloved rivers. On Saturday, the Milwaukee Riverkeeper sponsored the 17th annual spring cleanup. Volunteers aimed to remove debris and trash from the water and banks, as well as pulling invasive plant species and educate the community about the importance of their rivers.

Read more here…

These are just a few of the great events that took place in celebration of Earth Day 2012. What events did you participate in?

These outings make the most out of the Bandalong Litter Trap’s educational component by involving the public. Project Director Vaughn Perry educated the youth on how the Bandalong Litter Trap works. See more pictures below:

Project Director Vaughn Perry educating the youth on the litter trap.

Project Director Vaughn Perry educating the youth on the litter trap.

For more pictures, click here.

This StormX installation features a sign to inform the public about the purpose of this technology.

The city of Carrollton, Texas has made the most out of the StormX unit by installing an informative sign next to the  device to inform the public about the purpose of this unique device. The sign reads, “The purpose of this device is to capture and prevent floating solids, trash and debris from entering the Josey Ranch Lake through the storm drainage system.” By taking full advantage of the high visibility of the StormX, the city of Carrollton, Texas is hoping to increase public awareness about the problem of trash in our stormwater.

The StormX prevents floating litter and debris from destroying this beautiful, natural scene.

The Josey Ranch Lake (seen to the right) is a natural treasure to the city of Carrollton, full of catfish, much to the public’s delight. The Josey Ranch Lake Public Library is nearby and residents will be able to read the sign and learn more about the detrimental effects of littering. The StormX prevents floating litter and debris from destroying this beautiful, natural scene.

See more photos of this StormX installation, here.

The sign reads, "The purpose of this device is to capture and prevent floating solids, trash and debris from entering the Josey Ranch Lake through the storm drainage system."

This specific unit in Carrollton, Texas is an 84" StormX Half Pipe with a 48" reducer with net

Read more of this article here!

“Clean waters and outdoor recreation can boost urban communities’ human, environmental and economic health,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “Through the Anacostia River Revitalization Fund, we’re able to partner with state and local government agencies, private foundations and corporate sponsors to make the most of our resources and ensure our restoration efforts are as effective as possible.”

“We are proud to be a partnering with EPA, the DC government, and our corporate sponsors to help restore this important river – for fish and wildlife, for clean water, for the residents of DC and for its neighborhoods where people live, work and play,” said David O’Neill of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. “It is our goal to build this Fund so that it attracts new investments that will accelerate the restoration of the Anacostia and result in meaningful and measurable improvements to the river and to the communities that rest along its banks.”

“I’m excited and pleased that the Environmental Protection Agency is joining the District of Columbia and regional partners in our ongoing efforts to revitalize the Anacostia River,” D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray said. “This important natural resource was neglected for too many years — but it is central to our city’s geography and increasingly to its identity as a beautiful, sustainable, livable city with miles of waterfront ripe for public use and private development.”

“This important funding comes at a critical time, with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the District and Maryland in the early stages of implementation of the 10-year Anacostia River cleanup plan mandated by my bill, the Anacostia Watershed Initiative Act”, said Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton. These funds will move the District forward with the message that the city is serious about cleaning up the Anacostia River.”

Specific grant selection criteria will be mutually agreed upon by NFWF, EPA, DDOE and other funding partners. Priority will be given to projects focused on key tenants of the fund – improving water quality in the Anacostia River and its tributaries; achieving habitat restoration priorities for the Anacostia; engaging, employing and educating local residents and businesses; connecting the public to the Anacostia and its tributaries through enhanced outdoor recreation and volunteer opportunities; leveraging public and private funding to make the greatest conservation impact; and emphasizing the neighborhood benefits of watershed restoration to local economic development, public health, livability and as a neighborhood asset.

The establishment of the Anacostia River Restoration Fund is another step in advancing President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors (AGO) Initiative. Through AGO, the administration is opening up access to millions of acres for recreation, designating thousands of miles of new land and water trails, increasing youth employment in conservation jobs, helping parks and green space become more accessible and clean in urban areas, and making historic investments in large landscapes such as the Everglades.

The Anacostia River is one of seven pilot locations as part of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership, an innovative union of 11 federal agencies, led by EPA, that focus on both natural resources and economic development and aims to use environmental restoration to protect people’s health and maximize economic growth.

Today’s announcement in Anacostia is one of several conservation announcements made nationwide over the past two weeks as part of the White House Conference on Conservation—Growing America’s Outdoor Heritage and Economy. Last Friday’s conference convened hundreds of boaters, hunters, anglers, farmers, ranchers, land conservationists, historic preservationists, outdoor recreationists, small business owners, local governments, tribal leaders and other key stakeholders, strengthening partnerships and identifying next steps in tackling issues surrounding conservation and the great outdoors in urban cities and rural communities. During the conference, Washington, DC Mayor Vincent Gray participated in a panel discussion led by EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Nancy Sutley, highlighting the importance of rivers and clean water to our cities.

There are currently three Bandalong Litter Traps on the Anacostia River. The first was installed on Watts Branch Creek, a tributary of the Anacostia, in May of 2009. The second was installed in Marvin Gaye Park and the third in the James Creek Marina in December of 2011. The Watts Branch Creek Bandalong Litter Trap collected over 3 tons of litter from the Anacostia River in the first 12 months of active percipitation.

More information on President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors Initiative: http://americasgreatoutdoors.gov/ More information on the Urban Waters Federal Partnership: http://urbanwaters.gov/

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson and David O’Neill of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), joined by Mayor Vincent C. Gray and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton of the District of Columbia, will announce the creation of The Anacostia River Revitalization Fund. The Fund will invest $1 million in restoration activities this year, with a total goal of investing $5 million over the next three years to protect and restore the Anacostia River and to create a national model for watershed conservation. 

WHAT: Announcement of Anacostia River Revitalization Fund

WHO: Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency

Vincent C. Gray, Mayor, District of Columbia 
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton 
David O’Neill, Director of Eastern Partnership Office, NFWF
 
WHEN: 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 9, 2012 

WHERE: Marvin Gaye ParkNannie Helen Burroughs Ave and Division Ave NE
Washington, DC 20019

Bandalong Litter Trap in Marvin Gaye Park from behind

Once again, Storm Water Systems is proud to be involved with our nation’s capital’s on-going efforts to prevent trash from entering waterways. Washington DC started 2012 off right with the installation of two new Bandalong Litter Traps. According to a press release from the District Department of the Environment (DDOE), “the two Bandalongs, one installed in Marvin Gaye Park  and the other at an MS4 outfall near the James Creek Marina, will be instrumental in preventing trash and debris from reaching the mainstem of the Anacostia River.

What makes this installation unique is how the District funded the new Bandalong Litter Traps. In January 2010, Washington, DC became the first city in the nation to implement a fee on disposable shopping bags called the Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Fund. This innovative solution to the growing problem of trash in our water requires stores to charge 5 cents for each plastic or paper bag distributed at the point of purchase. The store keeps 1-2 cents of the fee and the remainder goes to the fund aimed at restoring and protecting the Anacostia River. This initiative raised approximately $3.4 million through September 2011 and is used for restoration, education and trash-reduction projects in the District’s waterways, outreach, implementation and reusable-bag distribution. A small portion of the funds raised were used for the two new Bandalong installations.

Storm Water Systems Vice President Mark Kirves after completing the installation at James Creek Marina

“I’m thrilled about today’s announcement,” says Council member Tommy Wells (Ward 6) and the principal author of the bag law. “The city is keeping its promise to use the funds collected to invest in the clean-up and restoration of the Anacostia. Today we are marking another step in restoring the River’s health for all of our residents to enjoy.”

“This is another progressive step towards restoring our rivers and streams,” says DDOE Director Christophe A.G. Tulou. “With these Bandalongs, we are doing what is necessary to ensure that our waterways are trash free and, at the same time, improving the quality of life for District residents.”

Bandalong Litter Trap in Marvin Gaye Park in Washington, DC

A press conference announcing the new installations was held January 24th at Marvin Gaye Park. Anacostia Riverkeeper and project manager Mike Bolinder said, “Everybody wins with a Bandalong project. The river is cleaner, jobs are being created, the City has help meeting its TMDL obligations and we’re gathering crucial data about litter.  This is a model every city in America should follow.”  The Bandalongs were installed as part of a grant awarded by DDOE to Anacostia Riverkeeper.

Groundwork Anacostia River DC (GWARDC), a local non-profit that uses environmental restoration as a means for community development, will be conducting annual maintenance on both devices. “Hopefully going forward, other jurisdictions will follow DC’s lead and see the incredible benefit in investing in this technology and supporting the resources that can work right along with it,” commented Dennis Chestnut, Executive Director of GWARDC.  “By combining effective equipment, the Bandalong, with a community’s most valuable resources, the people, we are able to make the Bandalong the most efficient system operating.”

James Creek Marina Bandalong Litter Trap has a walkway for maintenance crew

Storm Water Systems President Gary Hopkins stated, “Storm Water Systems is honored to be involved in this unique clean water partnership.  Washington, D.C. continues to prevent trash from entering the Anacostia River through an important collaboration between public, private and non-profit organizations. The District serves as a model for communities across America struggling with the unfortunate issue of litter in their waterways.”

Under the new MS4 permit, the District has committed to complying with the Anacostia trash TMDL by 2016. The DDOE states that projects like this will be necessary  to ensure compliance with the MS4 permit, the TMDL, and other efforts for a trash-free Anacostia. Since the installation of the first Bandalong at the mouth of Watts Branch in 2009, more than six tons of trash and debris has been collected.

When: March 31-April 1, 2012

Where: Chattahoochee Nature Center, Roswell, Georgia

Click here for more information