What is the Gateway Area Initiative Storm Sewer Stenciling Project?

The Mississippi River Gateway Storm Sewer Stenciling Project was created by the Rivers Project of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and funded by a grant from the US EPA Region V to address the issue of non-point source pollution in the Mississippi River Floodplain. Non-point source pollution is the most serious and threatening environmental issue facing Illinoisans today. As such, the Storm Sewer Stenciling Project targeted a two-county area of southwestern Illinois, from Alton to East St. Louis, known as the American Bottoms Region. This effort was the largest storm sewer stenciling project of its kind in Illinois with over 60 schools from the 18 towns and cities participating.

During Earth Week 1998, local elementary, middle, and high school students and teachers, along with city officials and workers, community volunteers, and businesses stenciled storm sewers with the message "Dump No Waste, Drains Into Our Mississippi". In addition, the Girl and Boy Scouts, church groups, and civic improvement groups stenciled not only within the targeted areas but also in adjacent cities and towns. This warning illustrated to area residents the connection between human actions, storm sewers, and overall environmental quality including clean drinking and recreational waters, and the delicacy of natural habitats.

The following is a short summary of Project goals:

1. Awareness: to every community of the potential dangers of non-point source pollution.

2. Educate: citizens in reducing and eliminating non-point source pollution.

3. Initiate: positive working relationships between schools, communities, and local government and city officials.

4. Enable: communities to improve their physical environments and quality of life through environmental education.