HOW TO

Keep Durham Beautiful announces that Saturday, March 13 through Saturday, March 20 is Creek Week, where we’re encouraged to learn more about protecting our watersheds/sources of the water we drink and use. Since 2009, Creek Week’s inaugural year, nearly 3,500 volunteers participated in the cleanup of local waterways and other areas (because windswept trash can end up in the creeks, rivers, and lakes).

If you’d like to help, here are some Creek Week activities that you can participate in by going to DurhamCreekWeek.org and signing up. Social distancing will be practiced at all events and masks will be required:

Penny’s Bend Nature Preserve Stewardship Workday (Old Oxford Rd)—Saturday, March 13, 9am–noon

trash cleanup and invasive plant removal
register by writing to tom@enoriver.org.

Ellerbe Trestle Cleanup (Red Mill Rd)—Saturday, March 13, 9am–noon

boat and pedestrian cleanup; litter grabbers, gloves, safety vests, and trash bags will be provided
click here to register (choose between bringing your own boat and cleaning on foot).

Third Fork Creek Trash Cleanup (the City’s Public Works Operation Center at 1100 Martin Luther King Pkwy)—Saturday, March 13, 10am–1pm

park cleanup; litter grabbers, gloves, safety vests, and trash bags will be provided; wear boots or waders for muddy banks
click here to register.

Virtual Creek Smart Tour—Saturday, March 13, 5pm–Saturday, March 20, 5pm

the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association will take viewers on a tour of Creek Smart practices and will show how communities thrive through the use of Green Infrastructure.
LINK coming soon.

Virtual Scavenger Hunt—Saturday, March 13, 5pm–Saturday, March 20, 5pm

Durham County will host an online scavenger hunt with questions about the environment, stormwater, and Durham County; download the Scavenger Hunt PDF to play.

Virtual Watershed Tour—Saturday, March 13, 5pm–Saturday, March 20, 5pm

Northeast Creek Streamwatch will lead an online tour to teach the viewers about Durham County’s water resources.
LINK coming soon.

Video: We All Live in a Watershed—Saturday, March 13, 8:30pm–Saturday, March 20, 9:30pm

the Durham Soil and Water Conservation District will explain what a watershed is and its effect on our lives.
LINK coming soon.

Sandy Creek Park Cleanup (3510 Sandy Creek Rd)—Sunday, March 14, 1–3pm

trash pickup in the park and along adjoining trails; cleaning supplies will be provided.

West Point on the Eno Creek Week Cleanup (Environmental Education Pavilion at 5253 N Roxboro Rd)—Tuesday, March 16, 3–5pm

park and waterway trash pickup; cleaning supplies will be provided; be sure to wear closed-toe shoes
click here to register.

Fix a Leak Virtual Workshop—Tuesday, March 16, 4:30–5pm

staff from the City’s Water Management/Water Efficiency will teach how to find and fix leaks in their homes
click here to register.

Workday Wednesday (Beaver Marsh Preserve at 3400 Ambridge St)—Wednesday, March 17, 9am–noon

trash cleanup and invasive plant removal
click here to register.

Fix a Leak Virtual Workshop—Thursday, March 18, noon–12:30pm

staff from the City’s Water Management/Water Efficiency will teach how to find and fix leaks in their homes
click here to register.

Do Your Doody Pledge (Piney Wood Park at 400 E Woodcroft Pkwy)—Thursday, March 18, 4–6pm

take the #DurhamDoodyPledge and pick up supplies for flagging dog-waste piles in your neighborhood.

Sunset Paddle (Falls Lake)—Friday, March 19, 6:30–8:30pm

enjoy a nice sunset on the water
click here for more info and to register.

Three Rivers Area Self-Guided Trip (6122 State Rd 1632)—Saturday, March 20, 8am–5pm

enjoy some nice flatwater paddling on Falls Lake
click here for more info and to register.

Haw River Assembly Clean-Up-A-Thon (Haw River)—Saturday, March 20, 8am–9pm

trash cleanup along the river
click here for more info and to register.

Fix a Leak Virtual Workshop—Saturday, March 20, 11:30am–noon

staff from the City’s Water Management/Water Efficiency will teach how to find and fix leaks in their homes
click here to register.

Creek Week partners include the City of Durham, Durham County, Northeast Creek Streamwatch, the Ellerbe Creek Watershed Association, the Haw River Assembly, the Sierra Club, Frog Hollow Outdoors, the Durham Soil & Water Conservation District, Greener Durham, Durham Parks and Recreation, and the Eno River Association.

There’s a mobile app called ReadyNC, which is both iOs and Android–compatible. This free app can be used to get weather updates, track storms, find shelter, check street and highway conditions, and much more. You can find invaluable information on their website by clicking here. (Clique aquí para español.)

Check out the Durham County Department of Emergency Management’s new AlertDurham app by going to alertdurham.com. You can track the storms and sign up for emergency notifications (you can choose text or email, and you can also set a “do not notify” period for your sleeping hours). You can register your whereabouts, whether you’re in your home or somewhere else; be sure to register your elderly neighbors and family members, too, especially if they live alone.