Port Angeles students mark storm drains with pollution reminders

PORT ANGELES — Hamilton Elementary School fifth-grade students took to the streets to spread the word about pollution.

The students from George Kheriaty and Becky Gundersen’s classes on Thursday marked more than 100 storm drains in the Hamilton-area neighborhood with plaques that read “Dump No Waste. Drains to Stream. Puget Sound Starts Here.”

The project was in cooperation with the city of Port Angeles Public Works Department, Port Angeles School District administrators, Clallam County Streamkeepers, Port Angeles Education Foundation and parent volunteers.

“The parents have been outstanding to donate their time, talent and resources,” Kheriaty said. “Working together has made this process educational and enjoyable for the kids.”

The storm drains were marked with plaques to help raise public awareness that water pollution in city storm drain systems directly affect the area’s salmon population, said school officials.

Students divided into small groups with parent volunteers and walked throughout the Hamilton area.

Lucio Baack from the city Public Works Department advised the group on the process.

The Port Angeles Public Works Department and Port Angeles Education Foundation funded the project.

Kheriaty was awarded an environmental grant in October 2000 from the Green Team at the Walmart Supercenter in Port Angeles for his idea of painting storm drains in the area.

Kheriaty credits teachers before him with inspiring his involvement in the community project. Teachers at Jefferson Elementary School in the Port Angeles School District and Queen of Angels private school have been involved in similar community projects, as well as the Boy Scouts in Port Angeles.

Baack encouraged students to call the city pollution hotline at 360-417-4745 to report spills of oil, paint, suds or sewage in local ditches, drains or waterways.