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Coos Watershed Association proposes storm-drain stencils to link streets to the bay
Summary
The Coos Watershed Association asked the Parks Commission to allow placement of large, pictorial stencils and text messages at targeted storm drains — including in Mingus Park and Empire — to highlight that street runoff flows to the bay and harms aquatic life; staff signaled support to collaborate on placement.
Alexa Carlton of the Coos Watershed Association told the Parks Commission the group has developed larger, customized stencils depicting five local animals and short text messages such as “drains to bay” to help residents connect street runoff to impacts in local waterways. “We want your average person to understand that when water falls into our streets, it enters storm drains, it enters the bay,” she said.
Carlton said the association has worked with the Confederated Tribes on native-language translations and identified three potential stencil locations in Mingus Park and additional Empire sites. She noted some proposed locations are seasonally underwater but offered the project as an experiment using durable paint.
City staff and commissioners expressed general support for staff to work directly with the association on placement and to bring a formal proposal back if needed. Greg Hamlet (City of Coos Bay staff) said staff met with the presenter to review Empire locations and would assist with siting and coordination.
The commission did not take a formal vote but indicated consensus for staff to collaborate with the Coos Watershed Association on pilot placements and to return to the commission if a formal placement request is required.
