When rainwater hits a hard (impervious) surface, like rooftops, roadways, parking lots, and driveways, it runs off the surface and becomes known as stormwater. Stormwater runoff carries all of the pollutants on these hard surfaces, like yard and animal waste, motor oils, herbicides and pesticides, sediments, and more, right down into storm drains and water bodies. Unlike wastewater from sinks and toilets, stormwater that enters the municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) is discharged directly into local waterways. 

Neighborhood stormwater ponds are specifically designed to capture rainfall and stormwater runoff and to treat the water before it moves downstream into larger bodies of water, like creeks, rivers, the bays and eventually out to the gulf. Stormwater ponds treat, or clean, stormwater with plants. The more plants there are in stormwater ponds, the cleaner and healthier the water becomes, both downstream, and down to the groundwater--where we get our drinking water from!

NEST Calendar

Each year, local elementary school students are asked to use their imaginations and talents to illustrate ways in which we all can help protect our environment. A panel of judges reviews the artwork submitted to choose the best expressions of theme, poster design, creativity and artistic skill. Hundreds of talented students enter the contest, making it difficult to choose only 13 winning entries. As you can see, these students clearly understand the importance of healthy habitats and that our actions can make a difference to the quality of life in our community.

2026 Calendar

NEST 2026 Calendar