Polluted Runoff (Nonpoint Source Pollution)

• Nonpoint Source Outreach Toolbox
  EPA's Nonpoint Source Outreach Toolbox is intended for use by state and local agencies and other organizations interested in educating the public on nonpoint source pollution or stormwater runoff. The Toolbox contains hundreds of resources to help develop an effective and targeted outreach campaign.
  
  
• Adopt Your Watershed
  EPA's online database, with information about community involvement activities, such as monitoring, cleanups and restoration projects.
  
  
• Stormwater Outreach Materials
  EPA has developed a set of materials that state or local governments can customize and use in their own stormwater outreach campaigns. Web site also contains reference materials.

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Information Resources and Centers

• Best NPS Outreach Documents
  These are the EPA Nonpoint Source Control Branch's recommendations for "best of the Web" for NPS outreach resources.
  
  
• EPA Watershed Outreach
  Find a selection of materials to help you understand and promote watershed protection.
  
  
• Example Photographs of Best Management Practices (BMP's)
  Photo examples of best management practices for various sources of nonpoint source pollution.
  
  
• Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) Photo Gallery
  The NRCS Photo Gallery contains natural resource and conservation related photos from across the USA. Search available photographs by state and category.
  
  
• EE-Link: Environmental Education on the Internet
  EE-Link is a resource designed to support students, teachers and professionals that support K-12 environmental education, such as media specialists, inservice providers, nature center staff and curriculum developers. The site contains Internet environmental-based school projects, classroom activities (including many lesson plans), environmental facts and data from many sources, curriculum directory guides, organization and audio visual catalogs, software, conference and workshop announcements, higher education links, facts, grants, literature pointers, regional information, and pointers to other environmental sites.
  
  
• Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO)
  NEMO provides municipal officials with technical assistance and training in linking land use to water quality.
  
  
• Secret Agent Worms
  A soil and water adventure for elementary school students from the University of Illinois Extension and Illinois EPA.
  
  
• Adopt-A-Watershed
  Adopt-A-Watershed is a non-profit organization that promotes educational enhancement, environmental stewardship and community development through Place-Based Learning.
  
  
• AMD and Art Project
  Innovative outreach and education project addressing acid mine drainage through the arts and sciences. The project won EPA's Phoenix Award in 2005.

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Fact Sheets and Reports

• Nonpoint Source Pointers (fact sheets)
  This is a series of factsheets designed to help the public increase their understanding and management of nonpoint source pollution in their community.
  
  
• Section 319 Nonpoint Source Success Stories
  Web-based set of two page stories features waterbodies identified by states as being primarily nonpoint source-impaired and having achieved documented water quality improvements.
  
  
• 2001 Nonpoint Source Outreach Focus Group Results
  EPA and its state partners commissioned a study on the effectiveness of nonpoint source outreach. Using a series of focus groups, the study explored attitudes, beliefs, feelings, motivations and perceptions of the public toward nonpoint source (NPS) pollution.
  • Three-page summary (PDF) (3 pp, 12K, About PDF)
  • 48-page final report (PDF) (48 pp, 139K, About PDF)
  
  
  
• Getting In Step: A Guide for Conducting Watershed Outreach Campaigns
  Available as a book and a 35-minute companion video, this set is designed to strengthen watershed outreach campaigns at all levels:
  • Getting in Step: A Guide for Conducting Watershed Outreach Campaigns - 3rd Edition (PDF)
    (EPA 841-B-10-002, November 2010) (178 pp, 6MB, About PDF), and
  • Getting in Step: A DVD Guide for Conducting Watershed Outreach Campaigns
    (EPA 841-C-07-001, June 2003)
  
  For copies of these resources, please contact the National Service Center for Environmental Publications (telephone: 1-800-490-9198).
  

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Conferences and Proceedings

• Fifth National Conference for Nonpoint Source and Stormwater Outreach: Achieving Results with Tight Budgets
  (May 2009, Portland OR) Proceedings and all presentations available online.
  
  
• Nonpoint Source and Stormwater Pollution Education Programs: Conference Proceedings
  (December 2005) Proceedings for the Fourth National Conference Nonpoint Source and Stormwater Pollution Education Programs on October 17-20, 2005, Chicago, IL.
  
  
• Nonpoint Source Pollution Information and Education Programs: Conference Proceedings
  (December 2003) Proceedings for the Third National Conference on Nonpoint Source Pollution Information and Education Programs; October 20-23, 2003, Chicago, IL.