Volunteers help improve Sweden's stormwater quality

April 23 was a cold, rainy day but that didn't deter Sweden and Brockport volunteers from spending a few hours picking up debris along roadsides. Kimie Romeo, Volunteer Coordinator of Environmental Programs for Cornell Cooperative Extension, explained to the volunteers that keeping land clean is one of the most important ways to protect the local watershed that feeds into the world's largest supply of potable water - the Great Lakes.

The Sweden/Brockport Stormwater Stewardship project was spearheaded by Sweden Highway Superintendent Fred Perrine and Brockport Superintendent Harry Donohue with assistance from Romeo and SUNY Brockport. Volunteers filled the back of a one-ton dump truck with debris. Plans to stencil stormwater catch basins were cancelled due to the rain.

Volunteers ended the event with a picnic at the Sweden/Clarkson Community Center. Several local businesses donated food for the picnic and supplies for the clean-up project.

Perrine plans to make the stormwater stewardship project an annual event. "The response from the volunteers and the local businesses was very positive," he said. "Despite being soaked and cold, everyone seemed to have a sense of accomplishing something important."