Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) recently partnered with Sustainable Carolina for the Orange County Creek Week, March 16- 23, 2024. Creek Week is an annual celebration that engages local communities in activities aimed at preserving and appreciating streams, lakes and rivers.
One of the highlights of Creek Week is the litter cleanup challenge, where volunteers come together to remove trash from water bodies. Additionally, there is a community science BioBlitz, invasive plant removal efforts and green infrastructure tours to educate participants on sustainable practices.
On UNC-Chapel Hill’s campus, EHS and Sustainable Carolina teamed up with Exercise and Sports Science (EXSS) Lifetime Fitness walking classes for two days of creek walks, offering students an opportunity to explore campus waterways. These classes emphasize the importance of lifelong health and physical activity by engaging in activities like creek walks and correspond with Creek Week core values, which encourage community members to take stewardship of local waterways for the benefit of future generations.
“This is the third year we’ve worked with EXSS,” says Sustainable Carolina Communications and Engagement Specialist Abigail Brewer. “This year, we were thrilled to have the expertise of the stormwater program with us for all of the guided walks — Stephanie Grubbs brought great ideas to the table throughout the entire planning process.”
EHS also joined forces with the Institute for the Environment for a cleanup along the Meeting of the Waters Creek in the Dean Smith outfall off of Skipper Bowles Drive.
“All water on campus eventually flows to Jordan Lake, a reservoir serving hundreds of thousands of Triangle residents,” says EHS Stormwater Specialist Stephanie Grubbs. “Our cleanup demonstrates a collective responsibility by the University to protect water quality.”
Furthering their commitment to environmental stewardship, members of the Epsilon Eta Environmental Honors Society conducted their own campus cleanup and invasive species removal.
These collaborations between University departments and organizations, comprised of faculty, staff and students, showcase the University’s dedication to environmental conservation and sustainability for future Carolina generations.