Volunteer

 

Creek Week

Creek Week Logo

Join us March 16-23, 2024, for our 6th annual Creek Week full of volunteer and educational events that will give you a deeper appreciation for our waterways. Find an event near you on our schedule below!

Creek Week 2024 Schedule 

Saturday, March 16

9:00am-11:00am – Stream, Street, and Park Cleanup with Keep Charlotte Beautiful and Parks & Recreation

  • Come help us keep our streams, streets, and parks beautiful with a morning litter pickup.
  • 2116 Margaret Wallace Road, Matthews, NC 28105
  • Register

11:00am-12:30pm - McDowell Nature Preserve: Creek Week – Stream Study

  • Take a closer look at water quality by catching tiny invertebrates that call our lakes and streams home!
  • 15222 York Rd, Charlotte, NC 28278 (McDowell Nature Preserve)
  • More info

11:00am-1:00pm – Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade

  • You can find Stormy and our boat at the St. Patrick’s Day parade this year!
  • Uptown, Charlotte
  • More info

2:00pm-3:15pm – McDowell Nature Preserve: Creek Week – Hike amongst The Trees

  • What better way to relieve stress than to take a hike in our beautiful nature preserve. Enjoy a stroll by the creek and get some fresh air while meeting new people and gaining new insights from your naturalist guide and the natural world. Sign-up for Yoga Amongst the Trees directly following the hike for a well-rounded experience. Pre-registration required.
  • 15222 York Rd, Charlotte, NC 28278 (McDowell Nature Preserve)
  • Register

Sunday, March 17

1:00pm-4:00pm – Fishing with Shaky

  • Whether you are new to fishing or a pro, come out and join our fishing expert, Dave “Shaky” Ferguson, to learn all about fishing at our Mecklenburg County parks and streams. Kids are welcome, fishing supplies and snacks will be provided!
  • 909 Lakeview Dr, Pineville, NC 28134
  • Register

3:00pm-4:30pm – Creek Week Cleanup at Chantilly

  • Join Charlotte Wildlife Stewards at Chantilly Ecological Sanctuary to pick up trash and make our creeks safer for both wildlife and people.
  • 2656 Laburnum Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205
  • Register

Monday, March 18

9:00am-12:00pm – Stevens Creek Nature Center: Creek Week Tours and Activities

  • Drop by Stevens Creek Nature Center any time this week for special Creek Week activities. 
  • 15700 Thompson Rd, Mint Hill, NC 28227
  • More info

9:30am-10am - Steele Creek Family Story Time with Stormy

  • Your whole family can enjoy stories, songs, and movement activities that support early literacy skill development and help foster a love of books and reading in your child and meet with our friend Stormy. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate.
  • 13620 Steele Creek Rd, Charlotte, NC 28273
  • More info

11:00am-12:00pm – Tree Maintenance

  • Volunteers will be taking care of trees planted in the flood plain.
  • 1939 Merriman Ave., Charlotte NC 28203 
  • Register

Tuesday, March 19

9:00am-12:00pm – Stevens Creek Nature Center: Creek Week Tours and Activities

  • Drop by Stevens Creek Nature Center any time this week for special Creek Week activities. 
  • 15700 Thompson Rd, Mint Hill, NC 28227
  • More info

10:00am-12:00pm – "Walk In The Park" & Stream Cleanup 

  • Sign up today to help keep the greenway clean and stream healthy by picking up litter! A great way to spend some time on your lunch break by getting outdoors and helping in your community.
  • 715 Charlottetowne Ave, Charlotte, NC 28204 
  • More info 

5:00pm-6:00pm – Rain Garden Maintenance

  • This is a perfect activity to jump into after work! Volunteers will help to plant native species and remove invasive species from a rain gardens. These gardens help filter out pollutants before they reach storm drains.
  • 8920 Fairview Rd., Mint Hill, NC 28227 
  • Register

Wednesday, March 20

9:00am-12:00pm – Stevens Creek Nature Center: Creek Week Tours and Activities

  • Drop by Stevens Creek Nature Center any time this week for special Creek Week activities. 
  • 15700 Thompson Rd, Mint Hill, NC 28227
  • More info 

Thursday, March 21

9:00am-12:00pm – Stevens Creek Nature Center: Creek Week Tours and Activities

  • Drop by Stevens Creek Nature Center any time this week for special Creek Week activities. 
  • 15700 Thompson Rd, Mint Hill, NC 28227
  • More info  

Friday, March 22

9:00am-5:00pm – Stevens Creek Nature Center: Creek Week Tours and Activities

  • Drop by Stevens Creek Nature Center any time this week for special Creek Week activities. 
  • 15700 Thompson Rd, Mint Hill, NC 28227
  • More info 

6:00pm-8:00pm - Dog Days at Rays Splash Planet

  • Come and enjoy dog vendors, food trucks, and dog contests like best dressed dog or best pet owner look-a-like on the Ray's Splash Planet Lawn. The first 50 pre-registered participants will receive a free dog gift!
  • 215 N Sycamore St, Charlotte, NC 28202
  • Register

Saturday, March 23

9:00am-12:00pm – The Big Spring Clean

10:00am - 12:00pm - Char-Meck Creek Week Land/Wade in Creek Cleanup

  • Join Catawba Riverkeeper and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Stormwater for the annual Creek Week to remove trash via waders from in and around Briar Creek.
  • 2730 Randolph Rd, Charlotte (Briar Creek Greenway)
  • Register

1:00pm-3:00pm – McDowell Nature Preserve: Creek Week - Wonders of Water

  • Every living creature needs water to survive from the smallest bacteria to the largest of whales! Drop in from 1-3pm to explore how water connects us all in this hands-on program.
  • 15222 York Rd, Charlotte, NC 28278 (McDowell Nature Preserve)
  • Register

The Big Spring Clean

The Big Spring Clean Logo

Join neighbors from all over Charlotte-Mecklenburg as CMSWS hosts multiple stream cleanups around the county in one day, March 23rd, 2024. Check below for a site near you!

Upcoming Volunteer Events

CMSWS hosts monthly events the Second Saturday and last Thursday (VolunThursday) of every month, along with other events throughout the year. The calendar below lists upcoming events. If you plan to attend, please register on our Volunteer Opportunities SignUpGenius page.

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Adopt-A-Stream

Commit to take ownership of a stream segment and remove litter from it at least twice a year, in exchange you get a sign with your group name on it! It can be a great opportunity to teach environmental stewardship to children or a great team building and community service activity for businesses, civic groups, and neighborhood groups. 

How to get started:

  1. Find a stream segment available for adoption using our Adopt-A-Stream Interactive Map
  2. Visit the stream segment
    • Make sure there are safe areas to access the creek and the water isn’t too deep for your group
  3. Email your stream code and any questions you have to STW-Volunteers@mecknc.gov. We’ll get you started with your new Adopt-A-Stream contract along with details on how to pick-up supplies and schedule your first cleanup!

Adopt-A-Drain

Help protect our waterways by keeping pollution from entering our storm drains. This program is currently a pilot program in partnership with the Towns of Davidson, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville. Use our Adopt-A-Drain Interactive Map to find a storm drain available for adoption.

Storm Drain Marking

Help protect streams and lakes by educating the community about their connection to our waterways! Volunteers with the Storm Drain Marking Program glue decals onto storm drains that say, “This Drain Is Only for Rain. Do Not Dump – Drains to Creek”. Use our Storm Drain Marking Interactive Map to find streets that are in need of markers. 

Storm Water Advisory Committee

The Storm Water Advisory Committee (SWAC) is a group of volunteers who provide guidance and public input into the services and policies of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services. The advisory committee is comprised of nine residents appointed by the City Council, County Commission and Town Commissions. SWAC meets monthly and provides four areas of service:

  • reviews policies
  • hears appeals and decides on violations, fee credits, service charges and adjustments
  • evaluates capital and operational programs and budgets
  • makes recommendations or comments to elected officials

Appeals

The SWAC hears appeals related to the Storm Water Services Fee(PDF, 854KB)Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance(PDF, 1MB) and the Post Construction Controls Ordinance(PDF, 1MB).

Members

John Tartt, Chair
Randy Smith, Vice Chair
Nancy Carter
Nestor Hernandez
Cameron Guice
Rick Roti
Britt Setzer
Richard Thigpen

To apply for a SWAC member position, please contact either the Mecklenburg County Office of the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners or the Charlotte City Council Assistant City Clerk/Boards:

Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center
600 East Fourth St., Charlotte, NC 28202

Kirk McSwain
Assistant City Clerk/Boards, City of Charlotte
704.336.7494
Kirk.McSwain@charlottenc.gov

Or

Kristine Smith
Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners, Mecklenburg County
980.314.2914
Kristine.Smith@mecknc.gov

Meeting Schedule

SWAC meetings are held each month, every 3rd Thursday, beginning at 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM in the Hal Marshall Conference Room 407, 4th Floor, 2145 Suttle Ave, Charlotte, NC 28208. The public is welcome to attend and provide input during public comment. For more information about SWAC or to request meeting agendas or minutes, please contact:

Myrette Stephen
Senior Administrative Support Assistant, Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services
980.314.3205
Myrette.Stephen@mecknc.gov

*Anyone needing special accommodations when attending a SWAC meeting and/or if this information is needed in any alternate format because of a disability, please contact the Clerk to the SWAC at least 72 hours prior to the meeting at 980.314.3205.

Tree Planting and Maintenance

This year 171 volunteers helped plant 323 trees along Long Creek and Dixon branch Greenway in Northlake for Creek ReLeaf! This effort helps to build stream bank stability and provide habitat for years to come. Check back with us next fall to see how you can volunteer at Creek ReLeaf.

Volunteer Monitoring

Help us monitor the health of a local stream by taking a quick photo, sample, or continually monitoring a specific location. If you have a stream in your neighborhood that you would like to monitor or you just want to learn more ways to get involved with this program, email Taylor Mebane at STW-Volunteers@mecknc.gov