Adopt-A-Stream Near You through Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful
As an integral element of our partnership with Gwinnett County’s Department of Water Resources to protect and preserve our local watersheds, we are pleased to host a volunteer water quality program called Adopt-a-Stream.
Georgia Adopt-a-Stream is a state program that enables citizens to collect baseline water quality data to both observe the conditions of our local streams and become more aware of pollution and water quality issues. Unfortunately, many streams in Gwinnett do not currently meet established state water quality standards. That’s why we need your help!
You and your family/co-workers/group could serve as “adopters” of a portion of a creek or stream by periodically monitoring its condition with supplies, training, and certifications in chemical, bacterial and macroinvertebrate testing provided by Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and the Department of Water Resources.
How do I Adopt a Stream?
There are 3 easy steps to adopting a stream, lake, pond, or wetland:
1. Select a waterway and a site!
Think about if you have a stream, lake, pond, or wetland in your backyard or at a public area near you that offers easy access. We can also help you pick a stream if you do not have one in mind.
2. Take a training workshop and get certified!
Depending on the type of monitoring you wish to conduct, you may be required to obtain certification through one of our workshops before you can begin collecting data. We offer free monthly classes that anyone 14+ can register for!
3. Take action!
If you’re a Gwinnett resident, we have offer a sampling kit lending program. We will help you get set-up with the correct tools so you can take action to protect our environment!