Dallas citizens are encouraged to make a real difference in sustaining our natural resources by getting involved in these volunteer programs:
Texas Stream Team
Estimated Hours: 15-20
Want a chance to really get involved by taking pride and responsibility in your neighborhood creek or lake? Then Texas Stream Team may be for you. Volunteer monitors throughout Texas collect and test water samples from water bodies just like the ones you find in your backyard. The results are then made part of a statewide database for all Texans to see and use. If you want to be an official monitor, you’ll attend a training seminar and pick an area to monitor on a monthly basis. For more information, call the City of Dallas Stormwater Management at (214) 948-4022.
Storm Drain Marking
Estimated Hours: 5-10
The Storm Drain Marking Program is an easy way for all ages to get directly involved in reducing the amount of pollution in our streams and lakes. Current volunteers in the program include: individuals, families, students, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, garden clubs, civic organizations, homeowner, and neighborhood associations to name a few. Volunteers can spend as much time as they wish marking drains.
Instructions and a storm drain marking kit will be provided. You will be able to choose the area within the City of Dallas you (or your group) want to mark. You'll need to do at least 15 drains, but you can choose to do as many as you want. Hours depends on the number of people participating and how many drains you choose to mark. For more information, or to participate in storm drain marking, see the Green Dallas website.
Household Chemical Collection Center of Dallas (HC3)
Estimated Hours: Varies by project
You can partner with the Household Chemical Collection Center to dispose of hazardous household waste properly. Find out about volunteer opportunities at the Center, or during a collection day in your neighborhood. You'll gain a real life look into the right way to dispose of household chemicals so they stay out of our stormwater. For more information, contact the Household Chemical Collection Center at (214) 553-1765 or visit the HC3 website.
Second Saturday Shoreline Spruce Up
Estimated Hours: 3
You can help clean up White Rock Lake by participating in a Saturday morning program. Participants usually meet at 8:00 am to register and eat a free breakfast, then spend two hours working on cleanup. A volunteer coordinator provides supplies and will be happy to sign your volunteer sheet when you finish. For more information, contact: For the Love of the Lake organization at (972) 622-SAVE (7283) or visit their Web site at www.whiterocklake.org.
Adopt-A-Shoreline
Estimated Hours: 20
Choose a stretch of White Rock Lake to call your own! This is a great project for a group with at least 15-20 members. It requires at least six group members to attend the twice-monthly clean up sessions and maintain “your” stretch of shoreline. For more information, contact: For the Love of the Lake organization at (972) 622-SAVE (7283) or visit their Web site at www.whiterocklake.org.
Lake and River Cleanup Program
Estimated Hours: Varies by project
If you want to choose your own water body to clean up, this program will get you ready to go. Keep Dallas Beautiful can help you locate an area creek or lake and provide you with planning and publicity assistance, as well as materials needed to hold your event. All materials are offered free of charge, and they support projects large or small. For more information, contact: Keep Dallas Beautiful.