Restoring the Sparkill Creek will take the collective effort of citizens, government officials, regulatory agencies, environmental groups and non-profits. The cooperation of local residents is vital to the success of the program. Here are some simple things that you can do to help:
1. Change the type of lawn care products that you use. People should use eco-friendly fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides. If you live close to the creek, it is imperative that you make an effort to reduce the amounts these products that you apply. This is a known cause of some of The Sparkill Creek's problems, please cut back as much as you possibly can.
2. Plant native trees and vegetation in and around your yard. This will help to stabilize the ground and prevent erosion as well as improve air quality, but please remember to be aware of the nutrients that you apply. If you live adjacent to the creek, you can plant vegetation without obstructing drainage, the view or access to the water if you plan correctly. We offer free consulting on such matters, so just contact us and we'll be happy to help.
3. Pick up any litter on your property, especially litter that is next to the creek. If you want to go the extra mile, take litter out of the creek (safely of course). Make sure that your recyclables and garbage are secure when set up outside to prevent wind and animals from dispersing them.
4. Park your car as far away from the creek as possible. The stuff that drips out of the bottom of your car can contain heavy metals from the degradation of your oil and gas tanks. The soot, metals, paint chips, gasoline and other automobile fluids all disturb the ecosystem.
5. If you store any petroleum products or chemicals near the creek make sure that they are contained and not spilling on the ground at all. Remember, the farther away hazardous substances are from the creek, the better.
6. If you see or suspect dumping or other illegal activity, report it to the police immediately. If you see someone throwing something out of their car window, take down their license plate number and tell the police what you saw. Start a community watch for litterers if you will.
7. Reduce the amount of impervious surface on your property by demolishing unused paved surfaces and considering renovations to your property to allow for the filtration of rain water.
8. Clean up your animal's waste in your yard and put it in the garbage.
9. Don’t dump yard waste (leaves, grass clippings, etc.) in or near the creek.
10. Go to town meetings to support this project and to follow the efforts being made to prevent the wastewater treatment plant from having to dumping into The Sparkill Creek.
11 Enjoy the creek by sitting beside it, monitoring a section of it, taking up birdwatching or kayaking and spread the word on the beauty and importance that it possesses.
12. Write to Al@SparkillCreek.com with ideas, questions, comments, observations and donations.
13. Remove the "Mile a Minute Weed" seen below. It has triangular leaves that make it easily identifiable. It looks like an arrowhead. Use gloves to remove and watch out for poison ivy.
Some Mile a Minute Weed seen growing along Ferdon Avenue by the creek
