Storm drains capture and convey stormwater from streets and parking lots to our lakes and waterways. These stormwater conveyances offer little in the way of reducing pollutants, like plastics, cigarette butts, pet waste or automobile fluids. The best strategy to minimize pollution is to raise the awareness of the public that anything that goes into a storm drain eventually discharges in to our lakes and waterways. In 2019, The Lake Erie Management Commission (LEMC) sponsored a Storm Drain Marking Project in the City of Dunkirk to reduce unintentional and illegal discharges to storm drains. Our partner, the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy coordinated the successful volunteer effort, which involved bilingual stenciling at over one hundred storm drains along the Lake Erie Waterfront. In 2020, the LEMC and the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy intend to expand the Storm Drain Marking Project to other Lake Erie communities. Below is an excerpt for the Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy’s Shed Sheet, which reaches over 5,000 subscribers.