Sierra Neighborhoods
a new program that helps people make better environmental decisions on their own propertiesWhen it rains or when snow melts, pollutants from our homes, yards, gardens, roads and parking lots are carried down storm drains. Our streets have become streams that carry a toxic mix of bacteria, litter, fertilizer, sediment and over 70,000 man-made poisons to our lakes and rivers, the places where we swim and fish and get our drinking water. Homeowners are able to reduce this pollution from their own properties and neighborhoods with practices that would reduce both the quantity and quality of runoff entering nearby waters.
Sierra Neighborhoods offers residential areas the opportunity to attend house parties and other activities, and to learn about and achieve environmentally protective actions. Several practices proven to be effective for reducing pollutant loading from residential properties include using rain gardens for cleaning and infiltration of rainwater, setting up rain barrels to collect water running off of roofs, raking leaves from street gutters, reducing or eliminating the use of lawn chemicals, stenciling gutters to warn people not to dump wastes or leaves in these sewer intakes, installing devices on irrigation systems to conserve water, and washing cars on permeable areas with phosphorus-free cleaners. In addition, community centers, parking lots, and local businesses can implement many of these practices to reduce their pollutant loading as well.
The Sierra Neighborhoods program is offered to neighborhoods with volunteers who are willing to help provide guidance, educational materials, and a list of things that folks could do in their yards and homes, multi-unit dwellings and businesses to improve water quality. Gatherings or parties will provide opportunities for neighbors to get together to learn about the program and its value to them personally and for the area's waters. After achieving a certain number of practices, one would become a "Sierra Neighbor" and would receive a token of appreciation (in addition to the knowledge that they are helping to protect water quality!). A neighborhood that has a certain percentage of Sierra Neighbors would become a "Sierra Neighborhood," and would receive an award for this accomplishment.
Contact Kelsey McDonald at or (651) 290-2099, or Scott Vreeland at or (612) 721-7892 if you are interested in helping with this program!