Thanks to our partnership with Toledo Public Schools through the Maumee F.L.O.W.S. project, 3 classes have gone out to mark 65 storm drains this school year, spreading the word that taking care of storm drains has a direct impact on our waterways. Read on to learn about our storm drain marking program and how you can participate.

Storm drains redirect water from paved areas like parking lots, roads, and sidewalks, which allows runoff water from these surfaces to quickly reach the nearest waterway. This prevents flooding, which is a good thing! However, not everyone knows that all water that enters a storm drain goes straight into the nearest ditch, creek, stream, or river - untreated. That means anything on the roadway (like antifreeze, oil, excess fertilizer, or lawn debris) can make its way from a storm drain directly into our waterways.

As part of the Give Water a Hand Campaign, our Storm Drain Marking program connects municipalities, citizens, and active volunteers to protect our drinking water. Throughout late spring and summer, volunteers mark storm drains with the phrase "Drains are for Rain, Flows to Waterway" with stencils or "No Dumping, Drains to Lake" adhesive medallions, as well as distribute educational door tags in the surrounding neighborhood. Marking storm drains is an effective way to educate people about possible water contamination through the misuse of storm drains.

Want to schedule a storm drain marking program for a group? Storm drain marking can be done whenever there is warm, dry weather. This program is a great youth learning opportunity; we recommend it for ages 10 and up. We provide all equipment and training. To participate, contact our office or fill out the online registration form so we can arrange a location and time for your group. We look forward to your help in sharing this important message!

We’ve been happy to get back into the swing of tabling and in-person outreach events across the region, from as far south as Bowling Green State University’s EcoFest and north to Naturally Oregon Fest near Maumee Bay. If you haven’t gotten a chance to see us in-person recently, learn more about some of the resources we promote when we’re out tabling.

Give Water A Hand Tip Cards

Give Water a Hand has been one of the most successful environmental awareness campaigns in Northwest Ohio. Over twenty local communities and organizations collaborated to create the Residential Campaign and subsequent Business Campaign. One important aspect of this multi-media effort is a series of tip cards on everyday changes we can make in our households and communities to protect water. These seven tip cards cover topics like water-smart lawn care, stewarding storm drains, and reducing our risk of contributing to marine debris. Find them all here.

Clear Choices Clean Water – Greater Toledo Lake Erie

Clear Choices Clean Water is an award-winning national program designed to increase awareness about the choices we each make and the impact they have on our waterways. Clear Choices Clean Water – Greater Toledo Lake Erie is a cooperative effort between TMACOG’s Stormwater Coalition members and many local partners. Clear Choices Clean Water focuses on taking pledges to protect water through our everyday actions, from picking up pet poo, to gardening with native plants, to committing to volunteer service. Learn more about these key action items and pledges on the Clear Choices Clean Water – Greater Toledo Lake Erie site.

Toledo Trash Trappers Postcards

Starting in 2021, the City of Toledo has led a project through US EPA’s Trash Free Waters program to install trash capture devices around Toledo’s waterways and raise awareness around marine debris. Last year, we began creating a series of postcards highlighting the trash trapping devices to be installed in our area. Different trash trappers have different marine debris specialties; some are better suited to particular waterways or particular types of marine debris than others. Although these postcards aren’t yet available on our website (you’ll have to find us in-person to snag one!) you can still learn more about Trash Free Waters from the City of Toledo’s program overview.

Our Clean Your Streams 365 volunteers are used to taking care of our waterways from the streambank. This summer, however, we’ve got opportunities to clean up from new points of view - while on the water! We’re proud to partner again with Metroparks Toledo and the Wood County Park District on paddle clean-ups, where volunteers remove trash from our rivers via kayaks and canoes.

Metroparks Toledo will offer three public paddle clean-ups: June 15 beginning at the Erie Street Market Boast launch on Swan Creek, July 28 at Delaware Island in the Maumee River, and August 24 at Granger Island in the Maumee River. Click any links to learn more and register. All participants must register via the Metroparks’ volunteer portal.

The Wood County Park District is offering an opportunity on July 9 to visit Hedges Island off the shore of Otsego Park to remove debris dumped by early summer flood waters. All participants in this clean-up must register through the Park District volunteer portal.

For all clean-ups listed above, the coordinating organization will provide kayaks or canoes to facilitate the program, although participants also have the option to bring their own boat. If you have any questions about joining one of these paddle clean-ups or want advice planning a paddle clean-up of your own, you can email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information. 

Last year, 37 volunteers on our partner paddle clean-ups removed 540 pounds of marine debris from area islands in Swan Creek, Grassy Creek, and the Maumee River. Let’s see what we can accomplish in 2022.