HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-06-2025; 8-f - Orange County Creek Week 2025 Proclamation 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 6, 2025
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-f
SUBJECT: Orange County Creek Week 2025 Proclamation
DEPARTMENT: Environment, Agriculture, Parks
& Recreation (DEAPR)
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Creek Week 2025 Proclamation Abby Mattingly, 919-245-2510
Wesley Poole, 919-245-2513
David Stancil, 919-245-2522
PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation declaring March 15-22, 2025, as "Orange County Creek
Week."
BACKGROUND: The first Creek Week in central North Carolina was observed in the City of
Durham in 2009 and is now observed by many communities across the state. Regional Creek
Week, started by the NC Clean Water Education Partnership in 2021, was a first step in leading
the way to foster appreciation of waterways. This special week saw local governments and
community residents work together to celebrate and conduct stewardship and maintenance of
local creeks and streams.
Orange County Creek Week flows out of these prior efforts, and celebrates the streams, lakes,
and rivers that connect communities through a series of activities such as a litter cleanup
challenge, community science BioThon, invasive plant removal, green infrastructure tours, and
more. These activities will be publicized by the partner organizations through social media and
other methods.
The fourth annual Orange County Creek Week is coordinated by the Towns of Chapel Hill,
Carrboro, and Hillsborough; the Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA); the Orange
County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation; the UNC Institute for the
Environment; Sustainable Carolina; the UNC Department of Environment, Health, and Safety; the
Eno River Association; and the Haw River Assembly.
This year, partners will create and hold events — both during the designated week and throughout
the month of March — that will positively impact water quality across the County to help protect
creeks and streams and inform community members on the importance of keeping waterways
clean from unnecessary waste and pollution. More information on Creek Week 2025 can be found
at www.orangecountync.gov/creekweek.
2
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the
proclamation. Funding for Creek Week activities are included in partner budgets.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
• GOAL 1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CLIMATE ACTION
OBJECTIVE 6. Protect water supply/watersheds.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve and authorize the
Chair to sign the attached proclamation declaring March 15-22, 2025, as "Orange County Creek
Week."
3
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION
CREEK WEEK CELEBRATION
March 15-22, 2025
WHEREAS, the first Creek Week in central North Carolina was observed in the City of Durham in 2009,
and is now observed by many local governments across the state; and
WHEREAS, in addition to Creek Week, many local governments and organizations across central and
eastern North Carolina have conducted Big Sweeps and other efforts to clean up trash in waterways; and
WHEREAS, Regional Creek Week, started by the NC Clean Water Education Partnership (CWEP) in
2021, is a special week set aside where CWEP-affiliated local governments concurrently work together to
celebrate and steward local creeks and streams; and
WHEREAS, the fourth annual Orange County Creek Week is coordinated by the Towns of Chapel Hill,
Carrboro, and Hillsborough; Orange Water and Sewer Authority (OWASA); the Orange County
Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation; the UNC Institute for the Environment;
Sustainable Carolina; and UNC Environment, Health, and Safety; the Eno River Association; and the Haw
River Assembly; and
WHEREAS, this impact could be greatly magnified through the collective efforts of additional local
governments, organizations and individuals working together to educate about and protect our waterways;
and
WHEREAS, creeks, streams, rivers, and other waterways support outdoor recreation, fisheries, healthy
lifestyles, and safe drinking water supplies; and
WHEREAS, healthy waterways support biodiversity, natural beauty, and provide critical habitat for aquatic
wildlife; and
WHEREAS, municipalities throughout Orange County will celebrate Creek Week and bring awareness to
the importance of litter cleanup;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: that the Orange County Board of Commissioners encourages
all community members to celebrate Creek Week and support efforts to protect our creeks and streams,
and further encourages all community members to steward our waterways to promote the well-being of
this and future generations;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners hereby proclaims the
third week in March, March 15-22, 2025, as "Orange County Creek Week".
This the 6th day of March, 2025.
Jamezetta Bedford, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners
ATTEST:
Laura Jensen
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners