CIWMB Press Room Archives

Local High School Students Earn Environmental Award:
Event kicks off 19th annual Creek Week activities

SACRAMENTO-- California Integrated Waste Management Board Executive Director Mark Leary will present an award to local high school students for their efforts to enhance California’s creeks, streams, and rivers on Friday, April 17, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Arcade Creek Park (map). The award ceremony and presentation by the students is the kickoff for Creek Week, April 17-25.

Creek Week, celebrating its 19th year, is an annual event organized by the Sacramento Area Creeks Council and made possible by sponsorships and in-kind donations. It promotes the long-term protection of our creek systems and creek banks by controlling trash, pollutants, and non-native plants that are overtaking native riparian habitat—a goal that benefits the entire community.

"The Board congratulates the students of Mira Loma High School for their outstanding efforts in keeping local waterways pristine, and helping to protect the fragile ecosystem that surrounds us," said Leary. "It’s encouraging to see the young people of this school taking the health of the environment to heart."

Leary will present the Creek Steward Award to Mira Loma High School teacher Cindy Suchanek and the students who maintain the Arcade Creek Project in recognition of their outstanding actions to protect local creeks and environment.

The Arcade Creek Project is in the fifth year at Mira Loma High School and is run entirely by students in the International Baccalaureate Program, who carefully monitor the health of Arcade Creek in Sacramento County. Participating students will be present at the ceremony to explain their work.

Clean creeks promote proper drainage, which is necessary to sustain plants and wildlife along the creeks and to ensure safe drinking water. Not throwing trash or harmful chemicals like used oil down storm drains or dumping them into creeks is essential to maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

During Creek Week, there are activities like nature tours, where participants can learn about the essential role that creeks play in the ecosystem and about the importance of keeping the creeks clean. In addition, teams of volunteers are needed to remove trash from creeks and creek banks on Saturday, April 25. Their work also teaches them about how to be good stewards of our creekways. The cleanup at the end of the week concludes with an afternoon of food, music, interactive exhibits and contests at American River College. (See www.creekweek.net for details.)

Directions to park: (Driving, you can't get to the park from Garfield.) Going east on Madison Ave. turn right on Hackberry Lane then right on Omni Drive at the stop sign. Omni Drive takes you to the park.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is the state's leading authority on recycling and waste reduction. It promotes reducing waste whenever possible, managing all materials to their highest and best use and protecting public health and safety and the environment.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is one of six boards, departments, and offices within the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA).

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