Home > Managing A Watershed > Improving Water Quality > Project Turtle

Project Turtle is a self-guided volunteer based activity focusing on Nonpoint Source (NPS) pollution and pollution runoff.  It is a community action project that raises public awareness of how day-to-day activities impact the health and quality of our waterways.

Reducing NPS pollution requires proactive communities because the pollution source lies with each of us. NPS pollution originates from diverse sources such as: pet waste, domestic chemicals and waste oil, leaking or overflowing septic systems, fertilizer and pesticides used on lawns, golf courses and agriculture fields, automobile residue and chemicals from streets, parking lots and construction sites.

Controlling nonpoint source pollution is critical for maintaining and improving the quality of our water. In fact, the U.S. EPA cites NPS pollutants as the current leading cause of pollution in our waterways.

The Project Turtle Program works to:

• Raise public awareness of NPS pollution by visually alerting people, through painted
  stencils that what is dumped in storm drains ends up in our streams.
  
• Provide a sense of value for the community and create an ongoing outreach effort for people.
  
• Satisfy, or partially satisfy storm drain stenciling requirements of the new Storm Water Rules, which will be implemented in municipalities statewide.

The Project Turtle kit includes a six-part manual to guide you through the project, storm drain stenciling supplies and publicity material. Order your kit today! To order contact Amy Weaver, Watershed Stewardship Specialist at 609-737-3735.

STENCILING STORIES:
Have you had a great experience with storm drain stenciling? Would you like to share your story? E-mail your story to aweaver@thewatershed.org to have it added to our website.