As Stormwater Awareness Week approaches, don’t miss the chance to join a unique presentation by Anne Dettelbach, Susan Harper (Harper), and Ann Zawistoski on November 13th from 10–11 am. This session will highlight the transformative impact of a nationwide storm drain adoption program that empowers local community members to “adopt” and maintain storm drains near them, improving stormwater quality and helping to prevent flooding. This inspiring program, embraced by 14 Puget Sound communities since 2021, is growing, with eight new Washington jurisdictions joining to support this hands-on initiative.
Ann Zawistoski, Adopt-a-Drain Program Director of Hamline University in MN will provide an overview of this award-winning program. Anne Dettelbach, the City of Redmond’s NPDES Permit Coordinator with nearly two decades of expertise in Washington State MS4 permit development and implementation, will offer insights into the program’s regulatory impact and its benefits for stormwater compliance in Washington State. Harper is a Senior Stormwater Education & Engagement Program Manager at Seattle Public Utilities and a specialist in Community-based Social Marketing will discuss how the program effectively motivates residents to take action. Through evidence-based approaches and strategic social engagement, Harper will share how the program creates lasting behavioral change that benefits communities and the environment.
Alongside the presentation, new resources have been published to make it easier to promote storm drain stewardship. A social media toolkit includes post templates for Instagram and Facebook in both English and Spanish, along with simple instructions for spreading the word. Additionally, two new Spanish-language videos are available on the Washington Stormwater Center’s YouTube channel, offering 22-second and 60-second promos to help increase awareness across diverse communities.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from seasoned experts and access fresh tools to inspire change! Register now for the November 13th presentation and join the movement toward cleaner, healthier stormwater management in your own neighborhood. Check out the Adopt a Drain page on our site for more resources from this fantastic organization.
