Volunteers
Wanted: Environmental Stewards
Many of the City’s daily activities are for the purpose of protecting the environment. The street sweeper is out on a daily basis picking up litter, leaves and yard wastes from area streets before it can enter the stormwater sewer system. This practice prevents pollutants from entering area creeks and lakes via the storm drain system. Street Department employees spend considerable time cleaning litter, leaves and yard wastes out of the catch basins and storm drains. This ensures the excess storm water will flow out of the City as efficiently as possible minimizing street and basement flooding. Cleaning storm drains and catch basins also keeps litter and yard wastes from polluting local waterways. The mechanics maintain the city vehicles The Water Collection and Distribution crew maintains the sanitary sewer system for the protection of human health and that of the environment. The Wastewater Treatment Facility staff strives for optimal plant performance ensuring environmental protection. The Fire and Police Departments are trained in emergency response procedures in the event of a spill or accidental discharge. Every Department within the City is involved in pollution prevention and environmental stewardship. The City of Moberly is committed to protecting the local watershed and is seeking environmentally focused groups and organizations to join them in this important endeavor. There are many levels of involvement in the City’s Watershed Protection Project. Involvement can be as simple as picking up a piece of litter each day to forming and leading a local stream team. BECOME INVOLVED!
Brief overviews of the City’s current projects are as follows:
Storm Drain Stenciling ProjectThe goal of the City’s Storm Drain Stenciling Project is to raise awareness concerning the interconnectedness of the City of Moberly’s storm drain conveyance system and local lakes, creeks and streams. Storm drains are NOT just holes in the ground. Storm drains are an intricate part of the local watershed.
A watershed is any area of land that drains to a particular body of water or any larger area of land and it creeks and streams that drain to a larger particular body of water.
An example would be Sweet Springs Creek.
Sweet Springs Creek is one of the City’s four storm water receiving streams. It accepts the storm water runoff from the southwest side of town and is approximately 11 miles in length.
Sweet Springs Creek runs into the Middle Fork of the Chariton River near Clifton Hill.
The Middle Fork flows into the Little Chariton River near Keytesville.
The Little Chariton flows into the Missouri River by Glasgow.
The Missouri River merges with the Mississippi near St Louis and then flows all the way to the Gulf of Mexico.
Technically, a person can stand on a bridge on Seven Bridges Rd and spit in an ocean a 1000 miles away.
| 1. | This project will involve using pre-made stencils to paint informational labels on storm drains within the city limits of Moberly. Completed storm drains are located on College Avenue in front of the MACC campus. |
| 2. | The City will provide all the materials needed to label the storm drains and a city employee to help coordinate the work. |
| 3. | The City will provide a brief “Working in Traffic” safety training course |
| 4. | The City will also provide high-visibility safety vest for all participants, traffic cones and signage for use when working in traffic and a truck to carry the equipment. |
| 5. | This project is a group effort and will require a three (3) to five (5) person team. |
| 6. | Log sheets stating which drains were stenciled, who was in the stenciling party and the date the stenciling was performed on will be required for each storm drain. The City will provide blank log sheets. |
A time commitment of two (2) to three (3) hours will stencil four (4) to six (6) storm drains.
Stream Team Project
The City of Moberly conducted a Use Attainability Analysis during the summer of 2005 for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. It was found, during this study, that many of the area creeks are being used as dump sites. Used tires, construction materials and old appliances can be found at or near many of the bridge crossings. Volunteers are needed to help with the clean up. Once the clean up is completed, the City is requesting the volunteers monitor the area and report on the various aquatic and wild life observed in the area.
| 1. | This project will involve removing discarded materials from area creeks and streams. |
| 2. | The City will provide for proper disposal of all materials collected. |
| 3. | This project will be conducted at bridge crossings and/or areas of public access only. Private property will not be entered or disturbed at any time or place. |
| 4. | The City will provide maps and a brief overview of the areas of concern. |
| 5. | Log sheets containing the clean up location, what was found, the date and names of volunteers will be required. The City will provide blank log sheets. |
| 6. | The City will also provide blank data sheets for aquatic and wild life monitoring and reporting. |
| 7. | This project is a group effort and will require at least two people to work together for safety reasons. A truck or other means of hauling the trash to the street barn will be needed. |
| 8. | Time commitment of two (2) to four (4) hours should be sufficient for the initial clean up. The aquatic and wildlife monitoring would require a minimum one (1) hour per month during the warm weather months. |
Contact person:
Geri Blakey
1.660.263.7164
gblakey@cityofmoberly.com
For more information, visit the following:
Conscious Choice - Rain Gardens
Action Guide