Following the Stormwater Flow

Doug Roncarati, City of Portland Stormwater Program Coordinator, walks students through a stormwater outfall inspection.

This spring Longfellow 5th graders learned the different parts of the water cycle and common water pollutants as preparation for their stormwater and YardScaping unit with the Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District.

During their walking tour of the Capisic Brook watershed, students viewed multiple examples of stormwater infrastructure and noted likely sources of water pollutants. As the tour passed through residential, commercial, and recreation areas, students observed how land use impacts pollutant levels and stormwater movement.

At Capisic Pond Park, students checked out aquatic macroinvertebrates from the stream and practiced a site walk inspection with Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District and City of Portland staff.

This amazing unit is funded by the City of Portland through the Greener Neighborhoods Cleaner Streams program and taught by the Cumberland County Soil & Water Conservation District.