Volunteer

CMSWS hosts monthly events the Second Saturday and last Thursday (VolunThursday) of every month, along with other events throughout the year. The calendar below lists upcoming events. If you plan to attend, please register on our Volunteer Opportunities SignUpGenius page.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. To make a reasonable accommodation or language access request, please email STW-Volunteers@MeckNC.gov or call 980.402.4206.

Creek Week 2025 is here!

March 22nd-29th

Creek Week is an annual celebration where Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services and many partner organizations host a week full of volunteer and educational events that will give you a deeper appreciation of our waterways.

Saturday, March 22

Creek Week Kickoff - Park, Street, and Stream Cleanup
9am-11am
2116 Margaret Wallace Rd., Matthews, NC 28105
More Info & Registration

Woodland Wellness Creek Meditation @ Reedy Creek Nature Center
10am-12pm
2986 Rocky River Rd., Charlotte NC 28215
More Info & Registration

Tree X Tree: Tree Mapping Event
1pm-4pm
701 Tuckaseegee Rd., Charlotte, NC 28208
More Info & Registration

Community Science: NC Stream Watch @ McDowell Nature Preserve
1pm-3pm
15222 York Rd., Charlotte NC
More Info & Registration

Sunday, March 23

Creeks Connect Us to Mountain Island Lake
1:30pm-3:30pm
6345 Sample Rd., Huntersville, NC 28078
More Info & Registration

Learn to Fish
10am-12pm @ 2990 Rocky River Rd., Charlotte, NC 28215 (Reedy Creek Nature Preserve)
2pm-4pm @ 8711 Monroe Rd., Charlotte, NC 28212 (McAlpine Creek Park)
More Info & Registration

Stream Cleanup w/ Charlotte Wildlife Stewards
3pm-4:30pm
2656 Laburnum Ave., Charlotte, NC 28205
More Info & Registration

Monday, March 24

Creek Week Nature Book and Look @ McDowell Nature Preserve
10am-11:30pm
15222 York Rd., Charlotte NC
More Info & Registration

Storm Drain Marking @ Eastway Regional Rec Center
11am-12pm
3150 Eastway Pk Dr, Charlotte, NC 28213
More Info & Registration 

Tuesday, March 25

Walk In the Park & Stream Cleanup
10am-12pm
1908 East Blvd., Charlotte NC, 28203
More Info & Registration

Wednesday, March 26

Stewart Creek Greenway, Stream Enhancements, and Constructed Wetlands
1pm-3pm
2600 Ravencroft Dr., Charlotte, NC 28208 (MLK Park)

Thursday, March 27

Story Time w/ Stormy in The Nature Space @ Eastway
10am
3150 Eastway Pk Dr., Charlotte, NC 28213
More Info & Registration

VolunThursday Stream Cleanup
11am-12pm
7526 Reedy Creek Rd., Charlotte, NC 28215
More Info & Registration

Carolina Thread Trail's Creek Clean - Little Sugar Creek
1pm-3pm
4275 Park Rd., Charlotte, NC 28209
More Info & Registration

Public Homeschool: Water’s Journey (ages 7-9) @ McDowell Nature Preserve
1:30pm-3pm
15222 York Rd., Charlotte NC
More Info & Registration

Public Homeschool: Water’s Journey (ages 10-12) @ McDowell Nature Preserve
1:30pm-3pm
15222 York Rd., Charlotte NC
More Info & Registration

Friday, March 28

Creek Week: Stream Explore @ Eastway Nature Center
10am-12pm
3150 Eastway Pk Dr., Charlotte, NC 28213
More Info & Registration

Live Stake Demonstration w/ Soil & Water Conservation
10am-12pm
9414 Northlake W Dr., Charlotte, NC 28216
More Info & Registration

Saturday, March 29

The Big Spring Clean Various Locations (See The Big Spring Clean tab below)
9am-12pm
More Info & Registration

Pollution Solution @ McDowell Nature Preserve
1:30pm-3pm
More Info & Registration

The Big Spring Clean 2025!

March 29th, 9am - 12pm

Join neighbors from all over Mecklenburg County as we host seven stream clean ups around the county on March 29th, 2025, from 9am-12pm! Find a site near you below! You can register to attend on our SignUpGenius!

Thank you to all the volunteers who participated in The Big Spring Clean 2024! Together volunteers collected over 9,000 lbs. of trash from creeks around Mecklenburg County. 

Locations:

Four Mile Creek @ Squirrel Lake Park
1631 Pleasant Plains Rd., Matthews, NC 28105

Toby Creek @ Toby Creek Greenway
1100 Chancellor Park Dr., Charlotte, NC 28213

McDowell Creek @ Birkdale Village
8925 Townley Rd., Huntersville, NC 28078

Little Sugar Creek @ Carolina Pavilion
9575 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28273

Stewart Creek @ Enderly Park
1501 Enderly Rd., Charlotte, NC 28208

Little Sugar Creek @ Metropolitan
715 Charlottetowne Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204
With Park & Recreation & Keep Charlotte Beautiful!

Little Sugar Creek @ Cordelia Park
600 E 24th St., Charlotte, NC 28205
With Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation!

Briar Creek @ Merry Oaks
1630 Masonic Dr, Charlotte, NC 28205
With Merry Oaks Neighborhood Association

Commit to take ownership of a stream segment and remove litter from it at least twice a year, in exchange you get a sign with your group name on it! It can be a great opportunity to teach environmental stewardship to children or a great team building and community service activity for businesses, civic groups, and neighborhood groups. 

How to get started:

1. Find a stream segment available for adoption using our Adopt-A-Stream Interactive Map
2. Visit the stream segment
   • Make sure there are safe areas to access the creek and the water isn’t too deep for your group
3. Email your stream code and any questions you have to STW-Volunteers@mecknc.gov. We’ll get you started with your new Adopt-A-Stream contract along with details on how to pick-up supplies and schedule your first cleanup!

Help protect our waterways by keeping pollution from entering our storm drains. This program is currently a pilot program in partnership with the Towns of Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville. Use our Adopt-A-Drain Interactive Map to find a storm drain available for adoption.

Help protect streams and lakes by educating the community about their connection to our waterways! Volunteers with the Storm Drain Marking Program glue decals onto storm drains that say, “This Drain Is Only for Rain. Do Not Dump – Drains to Creek”. Use our Storm Drain Marking Interactive Map to find streets that are in need of markers. 

The Storm Water Advisory Committee (SWAC) is a group of volunteers who provide guidance and public input into the services and policies of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Storm Water Services. The advisory committee is comprised of nine residents appointed by the City Council, County Commission and Town Commissions. SWAC meets monthly and provides four areas of service:

• reviews policies
• hears appeals and decides on violations, fee credits, service charges and adjustments
• evaluates capital and operational programs and budgets
• makes recommendations or comments to elected officials

Appeals

The SWAC hears appeals related to the Storm Water Services Fee(PDF, 854KB), Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance(PDF, 1MB) and the Post Construction Controls Ordinance(PDF, 1MB).

Members

John Tartt (Chair)
Rick Roti (Vice Chair)
Nancy Carter
Nestor Hernandez
Chauncey Mann
David Privette
Britt Setzer
Vacant
Vacant

To apply for a SWAC member position, please contact either the Mecklenburg County Office of the Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners or the Charlotte City Council Assistant City Clerk/Boards:

Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center
600 East Fourth St., Charlotte, NC 28202

Kirk McSwain
Assistant City Clerk/Boards, City of Charlotte
704.336.7494
Kirk.McSwain@charlottenc.gov

Or

Kristine Smith
Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners, Mecklenburg County
980.314.2914
Kristine.Smith@mecknc.gov

Meeting Schedule

SWAC meetings are held each month, every 3rd Thursday, beginning at 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM in the Hal Marshall Conference Room 407, 4th Floor, 2145 Suttle Ave, Charlotte, NC 28208. The public is welcome to attend and provide input during public comment. For more information about SWAC or to request meeting agendas or minutes, please contact:

Myrette Stephen
Senior Administrative Support Assistant, Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services
980.314.3205
Myrette.Stephen@mecknc.gov

*Anyone needing special accommodations when attending a SWAC meeting and/or if this information is needed in any alternate format because of a disability, please contact the Clerk to the SWAC at least 72 hours prior to the meeting at 980.314.3205.

Last year 179 volunteers helped plant 355 trees along Stewart Creek in Seversville for Creek ReLeaf! This effort helps to build stream bank stability and provide habitat for years to come. The next Creek ReLeaf event will be held November 22, 2025. Check back with us this fall to see how you can volunteer at Creek ReLeaf.

Help us monitor the health of a local stream by taking a quick photo, sample, or continually monitoring a specific location. If you have a stream in your neighborhood that you would like to monitor or you just want to learn more ways to get involved with this program, email STW-Volunteers@mecknc.gov.