The City of Arlington’s Stormwater Management Division created the Stormtalkers Education Program to provide Arlington educators and students an opportunity to learn about the City's Stormwater Drainage System. This provides us an opportunity to discuss stormwater pollution and prevention; flood safety and preparedness; and general water quality topics that affect our creeks, streams, rivers and lakes.
All the Way to the Ocean - A Rain Drops Journey
Our Raindrops Journey program is being expanded to include the video “All the Way to the Ocean” based on the award-winning book by Joel Harper. In this presentation, students will learn about different types of pollutants; understand how these pollutants enter our streams, creeks, rivers and lakes; learn ways they can help prevent or remove pollutants from our local waterways and discover how pollutants affect the plant and animal life that make up our environment.
Journey Through the Storm Drain System
This presentation introduces students to the city's Stormwater Drainage System. They will participate in a discussion on how and why it conveys stormwater away from our homes, businesses and schools to our local creeks, streams, rivers and lakes. Students will learn about different types of stormwater pollutants and discuss ways in which they can prevent stormwater pollution in our local waterways. The presentation will also cover topics such as natural floodplain functions, personal flood safety, property protection and building responsibly.
Bugs Don’t Bother Me!
Students can take a stormwater adventure by visiting the underwater world of our local creeks, streams, rivers and lakes! They will be introduced to the small animals that live in aquatic ecosystems and explore the effects stormwater pollution has on food chains and food webs.
Be Flood Prepared!
As our students get older and become more independent, they need to start thinking about keeping themselves and their friends safe. Flooding can happen anywhere and this program provides students an understanding of the hazards associated with flooding and basic guidance on emergency preparedness. Students will learn about emergency supply kits, evacuation plans and communication strategies.
We all live in a Watershed
Water is constantly moving from place to place. It is easy to see surface water from rain, or snow and ice melt flowing down streets and into creeks and rivers, but water is also moving through sediment and seeping into aquifers and other bodies of water as groundwater. A Watershed is an area of land in which surface water and groundwater drain to one central point. This is typically a river or stream which then makes its way to the ocean.
Understanding how watersheds work is important to our community. Watersheds influence a communities floodplain management and water quality management programs. This program focuses on explaining how a watershed functions through the students’ connection to their local watersheds. Students will learn the parts of a watershed and how land uses, and other activities affect flood risk and water quality within a watershed.
Native Bees and Other Pollinators
The Stormwater Education Specialist is also available for Open House Events, PTA meetings, or other educational events throughout the school year. For more information about our program or to schedule a presentation for your school, contact the Stormwater Education Specialist at 817-459-6572 or send an email to [email protected].