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4325 Pheasant Ridge Dr. NE #611 . Blaine. MN 55449-3070 Phone: 763-398-3070 . Fax: 763-398-3088 www.ricecreekwd.com March 22, 2004 Dear City Administrator, Your city, as a part of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) permitting process, devised a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP) to outline how your city is going to address the federal NPDES Phase II mandate and tackle its storm water run-off problem. The Rice Creek Watershed District is launching a storm drain stenciling volunteer program to aid cities in reaching their SWPPP goals. Stenciling is especially valuable as ongoing citizen involvement and outreach since stencils need to be refreshed every few years. Storm drain stenciling is an educational, interactive tool to engage people of all ages in watershed pollution prevention. This brings the message back to public attention with a bright new image on the street and another opportunity for volunteers and media attention. The message on the street tells what not to do and why. Media and fliers will explain what people can do and how. Stenciling works! It raises awareness and leads to pollution prevention. Studies in Wisconsin have proven storm drain stencils raise citizen awareness of polluted runoff flowing to rivers and lakes. Over 75% of people who had seen the stenciled drains knew where their water went, compared to about a third of those who had not seen a stenciled drain. Many people unknowingly believe storm drains connect to l!ewer treatment facilities and that industry is the greatest source of water pollution. According to EP A, over 60% of our water pollution comes from urban and agricultural stonn water runoff (non-point source pollution). People are more likely to change their behavior to prevent pollution once they understood that storm water runoff pollutes ends up in water bodies. Currently used in over 40 states, stenciling won't solve all water pollution problems alone, but it's a practical, positive, visible, cost-effective, easy first step toward public education, involvement and support for local watershed storm water pollution prevention. IF YOUR CITY DOES NOT WANT TO BE INCLUDED IN TIllS STORM SEWER STENCILING VOLUNTEER BASED PROGRAM. PLEASE NOTIFY DAWN DUBATSAT RCWD BY APRIL 15.2004. Otherwise, if volunteers in your community offer their time, they will be trained and organized to stencil an educational message next to the storm sewers notifying the public that the streets and waters are connected. Below are examples of a few stencil designs that may be used on your city's streets depending on into which type of water the street drains. nDJIPNO l'lASl'.11 ~iJ~O~"- ~-y JJlWNS TOJ,AIIH Feel free to contact me if you have further questions. Sincerely, Dawn Dubats Rice Creek Watershed District Environmental Educator Coordinator ddubats@ricecreekwd.com 763.398.3070 x 178