Durham Celebrates “Creek Week” March 16–23

Durham residents with a love of nature and a desire to help protect it should mark their calendars now to take part in the Fifth Annual Creek Week, scheduled for March 16-23, 2013.

This year’s week-long observance will provide dozens of opportunities for residents to discover and explore local streams and lakes through educational programs and recreational activities, and to do their part to protect waterways through volunteer projects.

According to Tania Dautlick, executive director of Keep Durham Beautiful, this week-long event is an opportunity to take care of Durham’s environment. “Creek Week is a fantastic way for Durham residents to discover local natural areas and make a difference through volunteer projects,” said Dautlick. “These activities illuminate the importance of protecting waterways for recreation and drinking water as well as show how we can all do our part to preserve a healthy natural environment for people, wildlife, and plant life.”

With the range of events offered, there is something sure to entice everyone in the family – even Fido. Residents can get outdoors and explore Durham’s hidden nature gems by canoe or kayak, or on foot via nature walks and hikes in beautiful locations including Duke Forest, Eno River State Park, and Sandy Creek Park. Residents can bring their dogs to a Durham Dog Park and take the Canines for Clean Water Pledge to reduce pet waste.

Creek Week will also provide easy volunteer opportunities for residents and organizations to connect with several scheduled cleanup events at local creeks, marshes, streams, and lakes throughout Durham. Last year, 250 volunteers picked up over 10,000 pounds of trash from Durham waterways. Volunteers can also help by labeling storm drains in their neighborhood.

Creek Week is sponsored by a collaboration of organizations that manage, monitor, and protect area waterways, including the City of Durham Neighborhood Improvement Services Department, Durham Parks and Recreation, Stormwater & GIS Services Division with the Public Works Department, and the Water Management Department along with Durham County Government, Durham County Library, Durham Soil & Water Conservation District, Ellerbe Creek Watershed, Eno River Association, Frog Hollow Outdoors, Keep Durham Beautiful, Haw River Assembly, New Hope Creek Corridor Advisory Committee, and Northeast Creek Stream Watch.

For a detailed schedule of events, visit their website or contact Laura Webb Smith at (919) 560-4326, ext. 30235 or by email.

For more information on all sorts of  recreation activities in Durham, click here.