People in Guilford County often don’t think much about creeks and storm drains unless there’s a flood, a bad smell or a mosquito problem.
However, county and city officials are hoping residents will spend at least a little time thinking about where water goes – and what things people throw into it – during this year’s Guilford Creek Week.
The annual event, which runs from Saturday, May 30, through Saturday, June 6, includes everything from stream cleanups and environmental games to fishing events, walking tours and even lakeside yoga.
The weeklong effort is a collaboration between Guilford County, Greensboro, High Point, Kernersville and a variety of nonprofits and local businesses focused on water quality and watershed protection.
Officials say that the goal is to make environmental education a little less like school and a little more like something families might actually want to get out and do on a Saturday morning.
One of the more popular events each year is expected to be Family Fishing Day at the Guilford County Farm in Gibsonville.
That event is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, from 9 a.m. to noon and includes fishing instruction, giveaways, raffle drawings and information on water quality and fishing safety. Organizers are encouraging attendees to bring their own rods and bait – although some equipment will be available on site.
In a nice bonus for occasional anglers, fishing license requirements will be waived during the event.
Another event during Creek Week takes a look at something most people probably don’t connect with clean water: old tires and broken appliances.
“The Flow of Waste: From Recycling to Watershed Health” will be held Monday, June 1, at the Guilford County Scrap Tire and White Goods Collection Facility on Bishop Road in Greensboro.
Guilford County staff plan to explain how electronics, appliances and tires are recycled and why improper disposal can damage streams and watersheds.
That topic might sound pretty dry on paper, but it’s actually one of the more practical environmental discussions planned during the week because it deals with the kind of everyday junk people often don’t know what to do with.
Meanwhile, Kernersville officials are encouraging residents to participate in a weeklong litter pickup effort that will be running throughout Creek Week.
Volunteers can pick up cleanup supplies from Kernersville Public Services and spend part of the week helping remove trash from roadsides, drainage areas and public spaces.
There are also several events aimed specifically at children and families.
“Creek Games” at Triad Park on Tuesday, June 2, will feature environmental games and interactive models designed to teach kids about watersheds and stormwater runoff.
High Point will also open the Frank L. Ward Water Filtration Plant for public tours on June 2.
That event gives residents a chance to see where their drinking water comes from and how it’s treated before it reaches their faucets. For people who’ve ever wondered what actually happens between the lake and the kitchen sink, it’s probably one of the more interesting events on the schedule.
Greensboro’s contribution includes a “Drain Marker Pop-up” project in the Saddlecreek neighborhood where volunteers will place markers near storm drains reminding residents that those drains flow directly into local waterways.
Environmental officials often stress that many people mistakenly believe storm drains connect to wastewater treatment systems. In reality, whatever goes into many drains – oil, litter, chemicals or grass clippings – can end up directly in creeks and streams.
Another event later in Creek Week will focus on the Downtown Greenway stream restoration project at Cairn’s Course in Greensboro.
Participants in the “Stream Walk & Talk” on Thursday, June 4, will learn about the stream restoration effort and the wildlife the creek supports.
And for people who prefer a quieter environmental experience, High Point’s “Lakeside Yoga Flow” at Oak Hollow Lake combines yoga with a waterfront setting Thursday evening.
Officials say Guilford Creek Week has gradually grown over the years as local governments have tried to make environmental awareness more community-oriented and less regulatory.
Instead of simply telling residents not to litter or dump waste into waterways, organizers are trying to connect people with the streams, lakes and drainage systems around them.
That may matter more than many people realize.
Most residents probably interact with local waterways every day without thinking about it – when they wash a car in the driveway, throw away an old battery, mow the lawn before a rainstorm or watch water disappear into a storm drain during a thunderstorm.
Creek Week organizers say those small actions can have surprisingly large effects downstream.
The full schedule of events and registration information is available at GuilfordCreekWeek.org.
Residents can also follow Guilford Creek Week on Facebook and Instagram for updates throughout the week.
