Storm Drain Stenciling

Mark a Drain for only Rain
Be Part of the Solution to Stormwater Pollution

Each day people dump chemicals and debris down storm drains in our community. Paint, motor oil, house-hold and pool chemicals, yard waste and trash dumped into storm drains eventually enter streams, lakes and the bay. These substances degrade water quality and are harmful to fish, wildlife, and even people.

Each resident of our community can make a difference. Your help is necessary because your neighborhood is directly linked to our water resources. You can make your neighbors aware of the dangers of stormwater pollution by participating in a Storm Drain Stenciling Project in your area.

Here's How You Can Help

• Contact Keep Manatee Beautiful to select a location.
• Organize a group of friends, neighbors, club or church members. If the area has a neighborhood association, seek that group's support and participation.
• Once your volunteer group is organized and you've set a date for stenciling, pick up a kit from Keep Manatee Beautiful. The kit contains everything you'll need for a successful project, including safety vests and traffic cones.
• Coordinate the stenciling project, following instructions in the kit. Then return the kit to Keep Manatee Beautiful with the areas stenciled noted on the form.

Clean Builders Build America Beautiful

Build America Beautiful is a partnership program between the National Association of Home Builders and Keep America Beautiful, administered through the local affiliate, Keep Manatee Beautiful. It is a voluntary program whose main goals are litter prevention, waste reduction, and recycling. Secondary goals are to reduce waste disposal costs, increase safety, and reduce liability at construction sites. Builders, developers, and contractors are eligible to participate and receive awards. Membership in the program has many benefits.

Developers have:

• Fewer contractor hassles.
• Greater distinction from competitors.
• Increased marketability before, during, and after construction.
• Improved community relations.

Contractors have:

• Increased speed and efficiency, higher productivity.
• Improved access to work areas and materials.
• Fewer lost-time accidents.
• Reduced insurance claims.
• Less material loss.
• Improved community relations.

Builders have:

• Greater distinction from competitors.
• Increased marketability before, during, and after construction.
• Cleaner job sites, resulting in reduced liability.
• Potential cost-savings on disposal fees made possible by recycling, waste minimization, re-use of material or other strategies.
• Ability to make a positive contribution many areas of environmental concern.

Communities Have:

• Less litter on nearby streets.
• Less waste that must be managed.
• Educated builders who contribute to environmental improvements.
• Become a partner in this program for $100.

Trash Trackers

Trash Trackers are citizens who are concerned about litter and illegal dumping in our community. The program addresses the feeling of helplessness that overcomes us whenever we see someone roll down their car window and toss litter onto the road, empty their ashtray while sitting in a parking lot, or unload garbage inappropriately.

Trash Trackers, in cooperation with the Manatee County Sheriff's Office, help enforce anti-littering laws by reporting littering, improperly covered trucks (with debris blowing or falling out) and illegal dumping. They are instructed never to confront violators, but to record vital information and turn it in to Keep Manatee Beautiful.

Trash Trackers are required to complete the training provided by Keep Manatee Beautiful. Upon witnessing a violation they fill out a form, then send, call or fax the information to Keep Manatee Beautiful. We generate a letter to the offender. Although Keep Manatee Beautiful does not have any enforcement powers, it is surprising how many offenders call and want to know "how to pay the fine" or otherwise "set the record straight."

Best of all, we as private citizens are empowered to "DO SOMETHING" about the thoughtless actions of others that are harming our environment.

Adopt-A-Spot: Beautification, Wildflowers, Xeriscape

Adopt-A-Spot: Keep Manatee Beautiful offers various "spots" (to include but not limited to medians, boat ramps, parks, lift stations, or other public areas to the general public (individual, family, business, club, group) for quarterly upkeep / maintenance / beautification for a two year period, with the option of renewal.

This program includes placing a wooden Keep Manatee Beautiful (logo) sign with the name of the adopting group on a rider above the logo. The logo sign is availible at a cost of $250. Adoption without the sign is at no charge.

The volunteers will remove litter and invasive weeds, prune existing plant material to maintain a compact size (to assure the plant material will be in scale with the medians and assure safe sight lines are visibility of signage for motorists and pedestrians) or other tasks necessary to provide general maintenance, with the option to beautify the area.

Wildflowers: Under natural conditions, wildflower seeds ripen and are dispersed by wind and animals in late summer, fall, and winter. Keep Manatee Beautiful encourages additional wildflower seed plantings. In addition to their beauty wildflowers contribute to the overall health of the plant community by providing specific soil nutrients and decreasing the need to mow frequently. Native seed collection is availible for a volunteer project. Cost is determined on project basis.

Xeriscape Landscaping: Using Florida's native plants, shrubs, trees, and grasses arranged according to their natural water needs. Xeriscape is a planned landscape that emphasizes native, drought-tolerant plants to conserve water. This preserves a natural resource while saving money.

Memorial Tree: Plant A Living Legacy,
Arbor Day

Memorial Tree Program: Through the Memorial Tree Program, you can become a partner in the greening of our community. A $200 gift will buy a plaque and plant a tree in the honor of someone you love. Birthdays, anniversaries, memorials, and other special occasions can be chosen to honor your special loved one.

Your gift will grow in beauty and value and be a living legacy to our community, creating an attractive and pleasant place to live, work and play.

An acknowledgement card will be sent to the person honored and/or to the contributor. A certificate of dedication will be presented either on Arbor Day, Earth Day, or mailed after the tree is planted.

Arbor Day: Each year on Arbor Day, Floridians pay tribute to the tree. The tree is a pillar and arch of the forest cathedral; the home of bird and beast, their shelter. The tree is the anchor of precarious topsoil. The tree provides shade and cleans the air.

The United States officially observes National Arbor Day on the last Friday of April, the day most states celebrate Arbor Day.

In 1945 Florida Legislature designated the third Friday in January as our official State Arbor Day. January's climate is optimal for planting trees in Florida.

Adopt-A-Highway, Adopt-A-Road

Keep Manatee Beautiful, Inc. invites you to join our Adopt-A-Highway or Adopt-A-Road Programs encourages volunteers to adopt a section of a state highway or county road within our community, with cleanups at least four times annually, including the Great American Cleanup and Florida Coastal Cleanup. This gives the public a sense of community pride and awareness of the importance of litter prevention.

Keep Manatee Beautiful will:

• Pick up bagged litter at specified locations.
• Provide safety vests and warning signs.
• Conduct safety meetings or provide video training.
• Post Adopt-A-Highway / Road signs displaying the sponsoring group's name.

Adopt-A-Shore

Adopt-A-Shore Program coordinates grassroots efforts relating to litter, marine debris and their effects on water quality. Under this program, volunteers agree to adopt a section of shoreline and clean it at least three times a year for two years, including the Great American Cleanup and Florida Coastal Cleanup.

The effect of marine debris on Florida's environment:

• Pollution of Florida's waters.
• Degradation of wildlife habitats.
• Injury to birds and marine wildlife.
• Visual blight of pristine beauty.

You have the opportunity to make a difference in protecting Florida's environment:

• You can help increase public awareness about the effects of litter and marine debris on Florida's environment.
• You can help change attitudes and behavior and prevent litter and marine debris at the source.
• You can participate in a hands-on solution to the problem.
• You can volunteer as an individual, family, or as a member of a group from your business, club or other organization.
• You can adopt a section of shoreline - beach, river, lake, causeway, stream - and commit to three cleanups a year for at least two years.

Boaters' and Anglers' Pledge

Boaters' and Anglers' Pledge is a cooperative educational outreach program designed to educate water sportmen to take personal responsibility for preventing litter and marine debris while they are on or around the water.

I Pledge

• to do my part in keeping Florida's beautiful waters free of garbage, trash and other debris.
• to make sure garbage on my boat is stored securely and disposed of properly when I reach shore.
• to remove garbage from Florida's waters and shores, and remember that a clean environment always starts with me.
• to always be an example of the stewardship and pride which Florida boaters and anglers share statewide.
• to encourage fellow boaters, anglers, family, and friends to "Take The Pledge" and help protect Florida's boating environment that have been given to us in trust.