PHASE II MS4 STORM WATER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM 
MINIMUM CONTROL MEASURE:  
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION

STREAM CLEAN-UP EVENT PLANNING RESOURCES

Provided below are useful resources for planning a stream clean-up event.  These resources include a planning checklist, a sample registration form, and links to web sites that contain useful information about hosting a stream-clean up.  Before planning and hosting a stream clean-up event, there are several important factors to keep in mind.  Most tips for planning stream clean-up events emphasize the importance of knowing the goals of the event and carrying out the event to meet those goals.  Some things found in streams, such as logs and other types of natural debris, can actually perform a valuable function in streams and should be left in place.  Stream clean-up events should focus on obvious forms of trash and debris such as cans, bottles, paper, and shopping carts.  Anything that is natural, and anything that could pose potential health threats (e.g., 55 gallon barrels, syringes, transformers from telephone/utility poles), should be left in place.  In the case of unknown or potentially harmful substances, contact the local health department or the nearest DEP office.

Phase II MS4 Storm Water Management Program
Stream Clean-Up Event Planning Checklist

(Insert Date)
(Insert City)
(Insert Stream Clean-Up Location)	
What Do We Need and What Do We Need To Do?	Who is Responsible?	When Do We Need to Have This Done?	
Event Time and Location 	
Set Event Date 
•	Consider stakeholders’ schedules, such as school recesses, holidays, summer vacations, other community events, etc.
•	Consult with other local organizations, such as County Conservation Districts, to see if there are opportunities to piggy-back with other planned events (e.g., Earth Day festivals).
•	Consider water quality and overall ecosystem conditions (e.g., low-flow v. high-flow; rainy season; spawning and/or migrating seasons, etc.)		Event date should be at least three months from the date that planning is initiated to allow enough time for preparing and advertising.	
Identify Registration Site
•	Select site that will serve as the primary meeting site to conduct activities such as registering volunteers, collecting equipment, serving refreshments, conducting first aid, and collecting debris from the clean-up.		Select meeting site in conjunction with selecting the date.  	
Select Stream for Clean-Up
•	Consult with local agencies and organizations (e.g., parks and recreation; county conservation district; local watershed groups).
•	Consult with private property owners, if necessary.  Take advantage of public access points.
•	Consider wildlife and habitat.  Avoid areas that contain significant habitat (e.g., spawning areas) and that may also serve as a safety risk (e.g., steep slopes, covered in poison ivy and brambles).		Select meeting site in conjunction with selecting the date.  	
Advertising and Volunteer Recruitment	
Produce and Distribute Announcements 
•	Consider developing a variety of announcements to reach a wide range of stakeholders.  If possible, develop an announcement to go on websites of local organizations and in local newspapers.  Other advertising includes flyers to local students, posters in local stores, and information for civic organizations to include in newsletters.
•	Include information on how and where to register, what to bring, and rain dates.		Produce 8 weeks before meeting.  First announcement 6 weeks prior to meeting, again 3 weeks prior, and 1 week prior.  	
Identify Chaperones
•	Recruit adult volunteers to direct volunteers to the registration table, direct volunteers to sites for cleaning, oversee groups collecting trash, and direct volunteers to refreshments and hand-cleaning station.
•	Number of chaperones will depend on the number of volunteers registered to participate in the event, and the ages of the volunteers.		Identify as soon as event time and location is set.	
Identify Water Quality Specialist
•	Solicit assistance from a water quality specialist from a local agency or organization to provide input during the event about what to remove from the stream and the stream bank and what to leave in place.
•	Ask for assistance in selecting and/or visiting the site prior to the event to determine sensitive areas and habitats.		Identify as soon as event time and location is set.  If possible, involve water quality specialist(s) in selecting the appropriate stream for clean-up.	
Pre-Register Volunteers
•	Develop pre-registration form.
•	Post form on website or provide phone number and/or email address for volunteers to contact to submit registration information.  		Produce form 8 weeks prior to meeting.  Include form and/or registration information in all event announcements.	
	
Liability and Safety	
Prepare Liability Waiver 		Develop 6 weeks prior to event.  Obtain internal approval of language contained in the form prior to the event.	
Recruit Volunteer Trained in First Aid		Identify and recruit at least 3 weeks prior to the event.	
On-Site Event Logistics	
Registration Table
•	Ask volunteers to sign in (pre-registered volunteers check their name from a list; walk-in volunteers provide contact information)
•	Obtain volunteer signature on liability waiver
•	Provide each volunteer with a name tag, map, and a work area.		Day of event.	
Refreshment Station
•	Provide drinking water and cups, at a minimum.
•	Locate stations in more than one area, if clean-up is taking place over a large area.		Day of event.	
Hand Cleaning Station
•	Provide soap, water, and/or hand sanitizer, as well as towels.
•	Locate stations in more than one area, if clean-up is taking place over a large area.		Day of event.	
Waste Disposal Station
•	Provide labeled containers for different types of waste materials (e.g., glass, plastic, aluminum, unknown, etc.)
•	Assign chaperone to work with volunteers to properly sort materials.
		Day of event.	
Certificates and Volunteer Awards
•	Prepare blank appreciation certificates to give volunteers at the end of the day.
•	During clean-up, fill out certificates with volunteers’ names based on the registration forms.
•	Ask chaperones to identify a particular volunteer in each group worthy of a special volunteer award based on hard work.		Day of event.	
Equipment and Waste Disposal	
Obtain and Provide Necessary Equipment:
•	Walkie-Talkies (for chaperones only)
•	Area Maps
•	Name Tags
•	Office Supplies for Registration Table
•	Registration Forms
•	Hand Sanitizer
•	First Aid Supplies
•	Refreshments
•	Trash Bags
•	Gloves
•	Volunteer Appreciation Certificates
•	Volunteer Awards
•	Camera 
•	Bug Spray
•	Sunscreen		Collect all equipment at least 2 weeks prior to event.	
Arrange for Pick-Up of Waste
•	Contact municipal sanitation department to arrange for special waste pick-up at event site for day of event.
•	Contact local recycler to arrange for special pick-up of all recyclable materials at event site for day of event.