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GIVEAWAY: This summer Stream Team challenges you t

GIVEAWAY: This summer Stream Team challenges you to clean up a storm drain in your neighborhood. Did you know that most storm drains lead directly to a stream or lake without any treatment? That's why it is important to make sure rain water is the only thing that goes down the drain.

Email us with a picture of yourself cleaning trash or debris out of a storm drain and you'll be entered into a drawing to win a Stream Team t-shirt & sticker and a pack of maple-caramel chocolate bars generously donated by our friends at Lake Champlain Chocolates.

Be sure to practice social distancing, wear a cloth mask and practice good hygiene by wearing gloves and washing your hands when you return home. If you can't wait until the drawing to enjoy some delicious chocolate, head over to https://www.lccretail.com/ to order online for local delivery or curbside pickup.

To enter: Send an email with the subject line: "Clean Water Challenge Entry" to rethinkrunoff@gmail.com with a photo of yourself completing the challenge or a before and after photo of the drain. Include your full name and town of residence in the email. Only one entry per person. If you are under 18 years old, please ask an adult to submit an entry on your behalf. All entries are due by midnight on July 15, 2020.

Residents of the following Vermont municipalities are eligible to participate: Burlington, Colchester, Essex, Essex Junction, Milton, Shelburne, South Burlington, Williston & Winooski.

#streamteam #rethinkrunoff #keeplakechamplainclean

Rainy days like today provide a perfect opportunit

Rainy days like today provide a perfect opportunity to capture and save water in a rain barrel for later use in your flower garden or lawn. Lauren attended our rain barrel workshop in Burlington last year. After a coat of paint and re-directing the gutter, here's what it looks like installed! Learn how to make your own at our upcoming virtual workshop (kits will be available for pickup for those who register and pay). Link in bio.

Today we're featuring Reid's story about an intere

Today we're featuring Reid's story about an interesting wildlife encounter along Allen Brook in Williston. "This time of day (6:00am) was excellent for bird songs and sightings. I recognized chickadees, goldfinches, red-winged blackbirds,finches, grackles, and robins, and there were more. 🐦 As I sat, a bullfrog eventually croaked about twice, and as the sun got lower other frogs started to chirp. 🐸 I noticed a few butterflies and flying bugs. 🦋 As I wrote, I heard movement to my right and turned my head to see a chipmunk 🐿 start to scamper across the bridge only to stop short when s/he registered my presence. I sat very still as the chipmunk tried to figure out whether to proceed or retreat. Several times it turned to retreat, then returned and looked at me more (each time coming a bit closer), then decided to leave, then decided to return. After 3 or 4 restarts, the chipmunk approached to about 2 feet, slowly made its way to the other side of the walkway behind me, and continued across the bridge. It reminded me of a child returning home for dinner, knowing it had to get home 🏠 but not sure if the way was safe! Downstream, I sat quietly long enough to notice a pair of grackles flying repeatedly to the same spot on the streambank. I realized they probably were feeding babies in a nest. 🌳" Thanks, Reid for reminding us that so many animals rely on healthy streams and rivers for food and shelter.

#rethinkrunoff #streamteam #streamstories

This summer we'll be featuring stories and photos

This summer we'll be featuring stories and photos shared by volunteers on the Stream Team. Today we're sharing this turtle spotted by Riley on Alder Brook in Essex. Whether you're basking in the sunshine or swimming in the water we hope you're finding ways to enjoy the summer weather.

Learn more about the watershed: "Alder Brook originates in Westford. Most of it flows through Essex Town, which is also where it meets the Winooski River. The sample site is located about two thirds of the way downstream. Alder Brook itself flows through a large forested area, but it also runs into the Essex Country Club and many residential neighborhoods. Also within the Alder Brook watershed are two schools, two parks, a grocery store, and several small businesses." Thanks, Riley!

#rethinkrunoff #streamteam #streamstories

⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣Each month, Ms. Drop and The S

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⁣⁣Each month, Ms. Drop and The Stream Team will present our tip of the month to help keep Lake Champlain clean by reducing stormwater runoff.⁣⁣
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⁣This month, we’re looking for people to join The Stream Team. Volunteer and help keep Lake Champlain clean!⁣⁣
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⁣⁣Learn more at rethinkrunoff.org/the-stream-team/⁣⁣

We are seeking volunteers to help us tell the stor

We are seeking volunteers to help us tell the story of streams. In lieu of our regular water quality sampling program we will be collecting stories from streams throughout Chittenden county based on weekly prompts this summer. Prompts will range from data-driven tasks like sampling macroinvertebrates or identifying plants to artistic tasks like sketching and taking photos. We will provide a brief training with each prompt, so no experience is neccecary. Story collection will begin June 15 and conclude August 21 for a total of 10 sampling days. Anyone is welcome to join. To be matched with a site or to ask questions send us a message or email info@rethinkrunoff.org
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Sites are offered in the towns of: #burlingtonvt #colchestervt #essexvt #essexjunctionvt #miltonvt #shelburnevt #southburlingtonvt #willistonvt #winooskivt .
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#rethinkrunoff #keeplakechamplainclean

Last week we scrubbed these tomato paste barrels c

Last week we scrubbed these tomato paste barrels clean so they can be upcycled into rain barrels this summer. Registration is still open for our rain barrel workshop in Essex this August. Follow the link in our bio to sign up. The cost is $40 per barrel.

#rethinkrunoff #keeplakechamplainclean #essexvt

Do you have a classroom or community organization

Do you have a classroom or community organization that is interested in learning about water quality? Book a guest speaker from the Stream Team! We are happy to present to groups of all ages with interactive programs ranging from “Build a Watershed” for younger learners to “Urban Streams in Chittenden County” for adults. Visit our website to to learn more and sign up. Presentations are offered free of charge to any school and community organization based in our 9-municipality service area*. Please note that our guest speaker program has gone digital to adapt to covid-19.
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*Burlington, Colchester, Town of Essex, Village of Essex Junction, Milton, Shelburne, South Burlington, Williston, Winooski

#rethinkrunoff #keeplakechamplainclean

Join us for a 30-min Zoom call at 2pm on May 26 to

Join us for a 30-min Zoom call at 2pm on May 26 to discuss how to change your storm water footprint to help #keeplakechamplainclean. Link in bio. Co-hosted by @echo_vt

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Upcoming Events

Essex Rain Barrel Workshop
08/15/2020, 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
Essex Fire Station

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