Public Involvement

Stormwater runoff is the leading cause of impairment of our nation's lakes and streams. The City of Monroe Engineering Department offers three exciting volunteer programs to provide the opportunity for families, local business owners, civic groups, neighborhood organizations, youth groups, churches, and academic institutions to be engaged in protecting local water quality. The objectives of these programs are to increase community involvement and awareness of the City's water resources, promote watershed-based environmental education, increase reporting of water quality problems, and to improve water quality and stream habitats.

Community Clean-Ups

Streams and creeks in the City of Monroe serve many uses, ranging from carrying stormwater runoff to providing habitats for fish, turtles, birds, and other wildlife. The City hosts public litter clean-ups, where trash bags and use of litter grabbers, waders, safety vests, and gloves are provided to volunteers aged 10 and older to clean up a local creek. We also schedule private group clean-ups. 

Seasonal Community Clean-Ups

This year’s Community Clean-Up event was on Saturday, September 13, from 9 a.m. to noon. Stay tuned for more information about future events.

Adopt-A-Stream

Adopt-A-Stream is an option for groups who want to commit to collecting litter along their adopted stream twice a year for at least two years. 

Storm Drain Marking Program

The City of Monroe’s storm drain marking program is a way for residents to get involved in improving the water quality of the City’s streams and lakes. Volunteers will glue markers on the edge of City storm drains. The markers remind people that only rainwater should go down these drains. The storm drain marking program is a simple yet effective way to help educate our residents and remind everyone that stormwater does not get treated — it flows directly to our creeks and streams. This program is available to ages 6 and up and the City provides drain markers, glue, gloves, and safety vests.

Storm Drain

Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Program

City staff will fully facilitate water quality monitoring events and provide all supplies. Volunteers will collect water samples from a local stream and use test kits to measure water quality. They will also complete a physical habitat assessment of the stream site. This program is available to ages 8 and up, and groups can enter their data into the NC Stream Watch Dashboard to be part of a statewide citizen science effort.

Water Monitoring