FAQS
What is River
Star Homes?
River Star Homes is a free
citizen program of the Elizabeth River Project, designed to engage
residents of the Elizabeth River area in simple practices they can do at
home to help make the river swimmable and fishable again.
How do I
become a River Star Home?
It's easy and fun! Agree to
a few easy things and you'll earn a beautiful yard flag that lets your
neighbors know you care about your home river. Sign up at
RIVERFest
on April 28h or on this
web site after May 1st!
What if I live
in an apartment or condo?
There are still things you
can do to help the river and we appreciate it! Right now however, with
limited resources, we are focusing River Star Homes on people with yards
(single family or duplex homes).
What if I
don't live on the river?
Many people are surprised
by just how far pollution will travel to reach the river. Even if you
live many blocks from the river, anything like fertilizer and dog poop
in your yard can wash into the river through the storm drains when it
rains, if you live in our "watershed". If you live in
this area, your
action counts!
Does picking
up poop really make a difference? Don't animals go outside all the
time?
Animal waste that runs off
into the river leads to high bacteria levels that make the river unsafe
for swimming (learn more here). There are lots of pets in our areas and
nature simply can't handle so much waste in the river.
Why is
fertilizer a problem?
Fertilizer, pesticides and
herbicides all wash off your yard and into the rief when it rains,
increasing nitrogen levels and introducing harmful chemicals. On the
Elizabeth and its Lafayette branch, these cause harmful algal blooms
that can lead to fish kills. (See more on fish kills here.)
How can I
share the River Star Homes story with my friends?
It's easy! Invite them to
Lafayette RIVERFest on April
28th
for a full day of fun activities, live music, great food, educational
exhibits and so much more or just ask them to visit the
RiverStarHomes.org web site. You can also Like us on
Facebook and invite your friends to, as well.
How much does
it cost to become a River Star Home?
It's free! In fact, you may
actually save money on energy bills, fertilizer, cleaning supplies and
similar expenses.
