Stormwater Public Education and Involvement

Get involved! Help keep our watersheds clean!

A Cub Scout with Pack 821 (photo to right) and other volunteers plant seedlings at Gold Park in March 2010. The event was just one of many that you can get involved in to help protect our waterways.

Associations/Partnerships

• NC Big Sweep is an award–winning, 501(c)(3), grassroots, nonprofit organization whose mission is a litter-free environment. Hillsborough has participated in NC Big Sweep’s annual fall cleanup for the last several years. The cleanup is a great way to focus on litter-free watersheds and to be involved. For more information about Hillsborough’s NC Big Sweep event or to volunteer, contact Stormwater Manager Terry Hackett.
• The Eno River Association is the town’s partner in preserving and conserving lands along the Eno River. You can become a member of the Eno River Association's Stream Monitoring Program and do something great for your local watershed.
• The Town of Hillsborough is a supporting member of the Clean Water Education Partnership. This program is a cooperative effort between local governments, state agencies and nonprofit organizations to protect water quality in the Tar-Pamlico, Neuse, and Cape Fear river basins through outreach and education.

Educational Programs

Have you ever wondered where the stormwater runoff flows from your school, neighborhood, church or business? Are you interested in helping to keep our local waters clean? Do you want to learn how you can prevent stormwater runoff pollution? If you answered yes, then why not have our stormwater staff conduct an education program specific to you?

The Town of Hillsborough partners with Orange County to provide educational programs and presentations to school groups, local watershed groups, elected officials, civic groups, developers/contractors and other groups interested in learning more about stormwater issues in Hillsborough. You can learn how to prevent stormwater runoff pollution, how to maintain stormwater ponds and other best management practices. You can adopt a local stream or even build a rain garden.

The town’s stormwater program also promotes various community conservation projects. For example, community volunteers planted the stormwater wetland and bioretention in Gold Park.

For more information about stormwater educational programs and volunteer oppurtunities, please contact Stormwater Manager Terry Hackett.

Homeowner Resources — What Can You Do?

• What you can do around the house.
• Build a rain garden!
• Manage your home stormwater.
• Be the solution to pollution.
• Visit these websites for more information:
  • North Carolina's stormwater page
  • EPA's resource page
• Contact your local stormwater manager, Terry Hackett.

Developer Resources — What Do You Need to Know?

• What you need to know on the job.
• Erosion Control Requirements
• Hillsborough's Post-Construction Stormwater Requirements
• Post-Construction Best Management Practices
• Visit these websites for more information:
  • North Carolina's stormwater permitting page
  • EPA's stormwater permitting page
• For more requirements, contact Planning Director Margaret Hauth or Senior Planner Tom King in the Hillsborough Planning Department at 919-732-1270 Ext. 73 or 86. The department is located on the Town Hall campus, 101 E. Orange St.