Information & Education Publications

These publications are available for use as public education materials. They cover a variety of topics related to nonpoint source pollution and storm water runoff. If you have any questions about these publications, please contact a Nonpoint Source Program staff member. 

Documents 

• Brown Water, Green Weeds - Familiar Signs of Nonpoint Source Pollution 
• Frequently Asked Questions - Deicers 
• Landscaping for Water Quality

Outreach Guidance Documents 

• SIPES/SIDMA Handbook 
• A Guide to the Media Process 
• EPA's Getting in Step 
  • Outreach Guide
  • Outreach Training Module
  • Stakeholder Guide, updated 2013

Powerpoint Presentations 

• Rain gardens 

Be Stormwater Savvy 

The Center for Environmental Study (CES) developed a Be Stormwater Savvy Media Campaign Toolkit through an EPA Section 104(b) Water Quality Programs grant administered by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. The toolkit was adapted for the Internet by DEQ. The toolkit consists of resource items that were evaluated and selected by CES for timeliness and appropriateness for use within the Public Education Plan developed by local governments to implement requirements of the Phase II Stormwater NPDES permit. These items, listed below, have been revised when appropriate to make them usable throughout the state. The printed toolkit contains additional items protected under copyright or available for sale, such as pens, bumper stickers, etc. The Be Stormwater Savvy logo developed for use statewide has been incorporated into most items. Each item is ready to use as is or you can add your logo or contact information. 

• Home Scavenger Hunt, Home Scavenger Hunt: 2-color, 8 1/2 x 11, original idea developed by RiverSmart 
• Wetlands Crossword Puzzle: 1-color, 8 1/2 x 11, original idea developed by the Rouge River Project 
• Household Hazardous Waste Word Search: 1-color, 8 1/2 x 11, original idea developed by the Rouge River Project 
• Our Lawns Pollute - Code Buster: 1-color, 8 1/2 x 11, original idea developed by the Rouge River Project 
• River Wildlife - Connect the Dots: 1-color, 8 1/2 x 11, original idea developed by the Rouge River Project 
• River Fish - Name Scramble: 1-color, 8 1/2 x 11, original idea developed by the Rouge River Project 
• Storm Drain Maze1-color, 8 1/2 x 11, original idea developed by the Rouge River Project 

Brochures and Fact Sheets 

• Rain, Rain...: 4-color, 8 1/2 x 14 gatefold, developed by the Center for Environmental Study 
• After the Storm: 4-color, 11 x 17, quarter-fold, original idea developed by EPA 
• Together - Better Roads, Cleaner Streams: 4-color, 8 1/2 x 11, trifold, original idea developed by EPA
• Do Your Downspouts Lead to the River?: 2-color, 14 x 17, folded in half and then quad fold, original idea developed by the River Rouge Project 
• A Citizen's Guide... Series: seven 8 1/2 x 11 brochures, folded in half, originally developed by the Clinton River Watershed Council 
  • A Citizen's Guide to Stormwater 
  • A Citizen's Guide to Lawn Care 
  • A Citizen's Guide to Fertilizer 
  • A Citizen's Guide to Boat and Auto Care 
  • A Citizen's Guide to Hazardous Waste 
  • A Citizen's Guide to Cold Weather Practices 
  • A Citizen's Guide to Native Landscaping 
• Making Your Home the Solution to Storm Water Pollution: 4-color, 5 1/2 x 15, folded in thirds top/down, bottom up, original idea developed by the EPA
• Our Actions Can Affect Michigan's Rivers, Our Actions Can Affect Michigan's Rivers: 2-color, 8 1/2 x 11, original idea developed by the Rouge River Project 
• Our Business Practices Can Affect Our Rivers, Our Business Practices Can Affect Our Rivers: 2-color, 8 1/2 x 11, original idea developed by the Rouge River Project 
• Stop Pointless Personal Pollution: 1-color, 8 1/2 x 11, original idea developed by the Rouge River Project 
• Car Care and Your Water: Where's the Connection? prepared by Tetra Tech for MDOT
• You Dumped WHAT Down That Storm Drain? prepared by Tetra Tech for MDOT
• Is Your Home Improvement Project Water Friendly? prepared by Tetra Tech for MDOT
• Hazardous Waste in Your Home? prepared by Tetra Tech for MDOT
• Smart Care for your Lawn and Garden prepared by Tetra Tech for MDOT
• What is Storm Water Runoff? prepared by Tetra Tech for MDOT
• Stormwater Management: BMPs prepared by the Rouge River Project 
• Septic Systems prepared by the Rouge River Project 
• Wetlands prepared by the Rouge River Project 
• The Watershed prepared by the Rouge River Project 

Posters and Flyers 

• Preventing Polluted Runoff is Everybody's Business: 4-color, 16 x 20, developed by the EPA 
• Keeping Our Shop in Tune: 2-color, 24 x 18, developed by the Rouge River Project 
• Keeping Your Shop in Tune: 2-color, 24 x 18, developed by the Rouge River Project 

Print Ads 

• Series developed by the Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council, 4-color or B/W, 4 x 10 
  • Trees Please color ad, Trees Please b/w ad 
  • Roll Out the Barrels color ad, Roll Out the Barrels b/w ad 
  • Toxic Waste Dump? color ad, Toxic Waste Dump? b/w ad 
  • Don't Get Hosed color ad, Don't Get Hosed b/w ad 
  • Be A Multi-Tasking Hero color ad, Be A Multi-Tasking Hero b/w ad 
  • Is Your Yard to Die For? b/w ad 
  • Cover Your Bald Spot b/w ad 
  • Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang! color ad, Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang! b/w ad 
  • Spreading It on Too Thick? color ad, Spreading It on Too Thick? b/w ad 
  • Diamonds..... color ad, Diamonds..... b/w ad 
  • Get the Dirt on Your Soil color ad, Get the Dirt on Your Soil b/w ad 
  • Scoop that Poop! color ad, Scoop that Poop! b/w ad 
  • Grass color ad, Grass b/w ad 
• Series developed by the Huron River Watershed Council, B/W, 4 x 10
  • Grass 
  • Healthy Grass 
  • Car Washing 
  • Oil 
  • Septic System 
  • Conservation 
  • Pet Waste 
  • Water Facts 
  • Runoff 
  • Dumping 
  • Storm Drains 
  • Toxics 
  • Hazardous Products 
• Four Ads - developed by River Network, 1-color, 2 x 8 or 4 x 5
  • Dripping..., Running..., Spraying..., Polluting... 
  • Dripping..., Running..., Spraying..., Polluting... 
• News Ad - Drop: 3 newspaper columns x 4", developed for the Stormwater Savvy Campaign
• Two Window News Ad: Two part ad designed to be displayed on the same page - the list at the top of the page, the larger ad at the bottom
  • Part 1 (List): 2 newspaper columns x 2"
  • Part 2: 3 newspaper columns x 4"

Miscellaneous 

• Bookmark: 4-color, 2 x 8, developed by the EPA
• Stormwater Challenge Placemat: 4-color, 14 x 11, developed by the EPA
• Watershed Placemat (PDF), (Word DOC): 1-color, 14 x 11, developed by the EPA
• NPDES Phase II Storm Water Regs - PowerPoint Presentation: developed by Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG)
• Be Stormwater Savvy Logos 
  • basic logo 
  • basic logo with icons 
  • drops 
• Clip Art 

Additional Resources 

The items in this section can be a great addition to your outreach effort.  However, the items have not been customized for use and permission to revise them has not been granted except as noted.

• Booklets
  • A Homeowner's Guide to Septic Systems: A detailed informational booklet that contains information for the homeowner about septic system function and maintenance.  Developed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; #EPA 832-B-02-005.  You may add the Stormwater Savvy logo and your logo if you like. 
  • Rouge River Repair Kit: A Citizen's Guide to Restore and Protect the Rouge River: An extensive look at individual actions including lawn, garden, landscaping design, erosion control, pet care, hazardous waste, car care, home improvement, septic systems, gutter systems and water conservation.  Although this booklet was written specifically to the residents of the Rouge River Watershed, most of the information can be translated to your area.  The information in the 42 page booklet may be used in your own publications.  Developed by the Rouge River Project and U.S. EPA.  Please give the Rouge River Project acknowledgement if you use the information.
• Brochures and Fact Sheets
  • Are These Products in Your Home?: A quick look at household hazardous waste products and proper disposal methods.  Contact information for disposal sites in southeast Michigan is listed.  Developed by the Rouge River Project and U.S. EPA; Print specs: 8.5" X 14"; 2-color; quarter-fold.  You may add logos to this product.
  • Top 10 River Smart Tips: Ten quick tips that will have a positive effect on our rivers.  Developed by RiverSmart; Print specs: 3 X 11; black; 65 lb., cover.  You may add logos to this product.
  • Detention Basin Maintenance for Homeowners' Associations: Detention basin basics, maintenance and best management practices.  Developed by the Rouge River Project and U.S. EPA; Print specs: 8.5 X 11; 4 color.  You may add logos to this product.
• Posters and Flyers
  • Protecting Water Quality from Agricultural Runoff: Quick quality examinations of runoff issues in terms of agriculture settings presented in two-sided fact sheet.  Developed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Print specs: 8.5 X 11; 4 color.  You may add logos to this product.
  • Protecting Water Quality from Urban Runoff: Quick quality examinations of runoff issues in terms of urban settings presented in two-sided fact sheet.  Developed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Print specs: 8.5 X 11; 4 color.  You may add logos to this product.
  • Stormwater and the Construction Industry: Large two sided poster discussing Best Management topics such as Dirt Stockpiles, Slopes, Silt Fencing and "Vegetative Buffers.  Developed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Print specs: 30" X 40", 2-sided, 4 color.
• Radio and Television Public Service Announcements
  • Water Spots Radio Ads (Zipped MP3 files): Twenty-four radio spots (60 seconds each) designed to raise the awareness of the listener about value of storm water as a resource and to highlight personal actions in protecting our waterways. Several of the spots are specific to the City of Grand Rapids.  All are adaptable by local radio stations.  Developed by the Center for Environmental Study and the City of Grand Rapids. Provided in ready-to-play format.  You may adapt the credit at the end of each spot to add your community.  If you have questions about the existing credits or want to adapt any of the spots to be specific to your area, please contact the Center for Environmental Study.
  • Row Your Boat Radio Ad (MP3): Developed by the Center for Environmental Study.
  • Rubber Duckies Television Ad (WMV): A review quality version of the "If pollution were rubber duckies..." movie clip developed by the Center for Environmental Study.
• Miscellaneous
  • Litter Bag text and graphic (PDF) provided in ready-to-print or adapt format. Developed by the Michigan Department of Transportation, MDOT Contact: Seth Phillips at 517-373-1908.
    (Filename: BusCard.pdf, Litter.pdf)
  • Business Card text and graphic provided in ready-to-print or adapt format. Developed by the Michigan Department of Transportation, MDOT Contact: Seth Phillips at 517-373-1908.
  • Decal: a decal to be printed as needed.  Can be printed as a static cling or sticker.  May be modified for your contact info (replace the Rouge contact info in outer ring).
  • Door Hanger: For a community action day or to provide to students.  Developed by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Print specs: 4.25" x 11"; 2-color; Standard Die-cut; 65 lb., cover