What many people may not realize is that roadside ditches, neighborhood curb/gutter systems and parking lot drainage inlets generally carry runoff directly streams, creeks and lakes with absolutely NO TREATMENT. So what ever pollutants that go into the storm drain system, go into our water. This system is part of a larger more complex system, our watershed.

On Saturday, November 14th, visitors to Placer Nature Center will experience our watershed as a drop of water. From high in the Sierras to a spigot in Roseville, our water takes an interesting and complex journey through the streams and rivers of our watershed.

“My Home, My Habits, My Watershed” will include an interactive walk-through of Placer Nature Center’s Watershed Learning Center which is complete with a miniature model of our local watershed. Simple things in our day-to-day life have affects on the quality of our water, participants will learn what they can do to help protect our local streams, rivers, and ultimately, the ocean.

Adult’s will receive handy information while the children will take part in hands-on water experiments and also make a water cycle bracelet to take home. Staff and docents will be on hand to answer questions.

With California in its third year of drought, there’s no better time than to learn about water resources. Nature walks will also highlight the work of water in the landscape, where it flows as well as the human impacts on the watershed. Lots of informational brochures will be available to take home including handouts from Placer County Department of Public Works, Stormwater Quality Division and other water-conservation related information.

This is a FREE event made possible by the Placer County Department of Public Works, Stormwater Quality Division. This program is ideal for as young as 6 to Adult (younger kids are always welcome). All the Nature Center’s exhibition halls will be open for viewing and exploration including the Main Exhibit Hall and WaterShed Learning Center, Discovery Lab, Maidu Village, Demonstration Garden and The Nature Shop.

Placer Nature Center, a private 501(c) (3) nonprofit, is open to the public and maintains miles of trails on their 60-acre campus.  Programs offered for preschoolers to adults, scouts and other groups, astronomy classes, environmental lectures and seasonal workshops. To date Placer Nature Center has served nearly 180,000 students and 200 teachers.

Placer Nature Center is located off Interstate 80 east of Auburn, at 3700 Christian Valley Rd. Take the Dry Creek exit and follow the blue Nature Center signs to Christian Valley Road. Proceed four miles to the California Conservation Corps. Turn left and follow the signs to the parking lot, a footpath leads to the exhibit hall. For more information, call (530) 878-6053 or visit www.placernaturecenter.org .

My Home, My Habits, My Watershed will take place on Saturday, November 14, 11am-2pm

Placer Nature Center, 3700 Christian Valley Road, Auburn CA 95602

(530) 878-6503 or events(at)placernaturecenter.org

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If you do see a problem - something getting into our water ways that shouldn't be - you can stop it by calling Placer County's Stormwater Quality Division. They will help educate and inform the property owners or help remedy the problem. They can be reached by calling 530-745-7500 and ask for Stormwater Quality Information, or contact them online through their "Contact Us" page at http://www.placer.ca.gov/Departments/Works/StrmWtr.aspx

To report illegal dumping or a spill outside of normal business hours, please call the County Hotline Number, in the Auburn area (530)889-4000 or outside the Auburn area at (800)488-4308.