ONLY RAIN GOES DOWN THE DRAIN

LOCAL 12-YEAR-OLD ENVIRONMENTALIST MAKING A DIFFERENCE 

When it comes to water quality, many understand the importance and the need to act, but not all go above and beyond to make a difference in their community.  

A 12-year-old environmentalist from Niagara-on-the-Lake, Soren Guevara, will work with the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA), his school Crossroads Public, and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, to educate local students on storm drains as the doorways to rivers, lakes, and streams, through the Yellow Fish Road Program. 

Established in 1972 by Trout Unlimited Canada, the Yellow Fish Road program requires participants to paint yellow fish next to drainage grates. This serves as a reminder that anything other than rainwater entering these drains can be harmful to life in and around the water and lead directly back to local lakes and streams. 

On June 21, approximately 30 yellow fish will be painted near drains around the school and participating students will leave educational fish-shaped pamphlets on the doors of nearby neighbours. 

“Clean water is critical and yet so many of us around the world don’t realize how every one of us impacts its quality. Something as simple as washing a car in our driveway, putting pesticides or fertilizers on our lawn, or not picking up dog poop can all result in those things going down the storm drains,” says Soren Guevara. "Despite common misconception, storm drains do not lead to wastewater treatment, but rather empty straight into the natural environment without being filtered or treated.” 

As part of a requirement to obtain the prestigious rank of ‘Eagle Scout’, the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America, Soren was tasked with leading a service project which would benefit the community. He decided to bring his school, hometown, and local conservation authority together for a cause he cares about deeply. 

“We are so pleased to work with Soren to support his tremendous effort to bring the Yellow Fish Road program to his school and community,” adds Kerry Royer, Community Outreach and Engagement Specialist, NPCA. “It is a great example of a young person taking initiative and bringing multiple partners together towards a common goal of community engagement and watershed health.” 

To learn more about this initiative or to become involved, visit https://npca.ca/get-involved#yellow-fish-road or contact Kerry Royer at kroyer@npca.ca.  

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About Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority:  The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) is a community-based natural resource management agency that works to protect, enhance, and sustain healthy watersheds. With more than 63 years of experience, the NPCA offers watershed programs and services that focus on flood and hazard management, source water protection, species protection, ecosystem restoration, community stewardship, and land management.  

The NPCA is one of 36 Conservation Authorities in the Province of Ontario and manages 41 Conservation Areas within the Niagara Peninsula watershed held in public trust for recreation, heritage preservation, conservation, and education. These natural and shared greenspaces marry nature, culture, and adventure to create limitless opportunities for discovery. 

The NPCA coordinates the Yellow Fish Road™ program on behalf of its partners, the Cities of Welland, St. Catharines, Thorold, Niagara Falls, Port Colborne, the Towns of Pelham, Lincoln, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Grimsby and Fort Erie, the Townships of West Lincoln and Wainfleet and the Regional Municipality of Niagara. 

About Trout Unlimited Canada: Trout Unlimited Canada is a non-profit, volunteer-based organization founded in 1972, focusing on protecting Canada’s freshwater ecosystems and habitats within local watersheds.  

The Yellow Fish Road™ program engages Canada’s youth, community groups, environmental organizations, families and individuals to protect water. They act by painting yellow fish symbols with the words ‘Rain Only’ by storm drains and distributing informative fish-shaped brochures to nearby households reminding people that ‘Only Rain Goes Down the Drain’. To date, the program has reached over a quarter-million people through the action project and over a million with door hangers in hundreds of communities across Canada. To learn more visit https://tucanada.org/ 

Questions related to the above release should be directed to: 
Erika Navarro 
Communications and Marketing Specialist
Mobile: 905-650-4027 
enavarro@npca.ca