Creek Watch Hotline Update

By Maggi Barry

Butte Environmental Council has been hosting the Creek Watch Hotline for many years. The hotline provides information about how to report water quality concerns within Butte County and also the State, such as illegal dumping in areas that may lead to storm drains, reporting hazardous material spills, and reporting water quality concerns. Callers can find out where to recycle used oil, where to properly dispose of hazardous waste, and how to become a citizen monitor of our local waterways.

Maggi Barry of BEC assists Jennifer Oman-Payne with the City's Runoff Pollution Prevention Program, and she coordinates the Clean Water Business Partner (CWBP) portion of the program. The CWBP program is incentive-based and provides businesses who pledge to use best management practices (BMPs) and educate their customers regarding proper disposal of wastewater a variety of perks.

The perks include a listing on the website www. keepchicoclean.org which highlights businesses. Participating businesses are also included in the annual Chico Clean Creeks Calendar. They are listed in an insert distributed to Butte County residents by the California Water Service Company and in free brochures to educate customers. Participating businesses include carpet cleaners, landscape contractors, painters, power washers, vehicle maintenance contractors, equipment rental businesses, general contractors, and nurseries. The program rewards businesses who are doing the right thing by protecting our waterways from runoff pollution.

Participating businesses may use the City's CWBP logo, a way to stand out as being a green, sustainable business that uses practices which protect and preserve our waterways. The logo distinguishes these businesses being environmentally conscious. If you know of a business that would be interested in learning more about this wonderful program, please call Maggi Barry at 891-6424.

Hotline information can be found online here and at www.keepchicoclean.org.

The Creek Watch Hotline number is 530-891-6459.

From the Summer 2010 issue of the Environmental News.