One of the best parts of living in Montclaire is the stream that runs behind Wensley Dr., separating our back yards from the forest near the Water Treatment Plant. It’s more than a pretty stretch of water — it’s our front door to the Little Sugar Creek Greenway and a shared space we all benefit from.
Montclaire joined the Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Adopt‑A‑Stream program in 2007, committing to two cleanups a year. After our first season of work, we earned the sign at the Farmbrook Drive bridge declaring this stream as ours to care for. Thanks to years of steady volunteer effort, the stream is far cleaner than when we began — but every cleanup still fills multiple bags of trash.
Twice a year, Charlotte‑Mecklenburg Storm Water Services equips us with garbage bags, gloves, grabbers, and waders. All we provide is the people. New faces are always welcome, and no experience is needed — just a willingness to walk the creek, meet neighbors, and help keep our watershed healthy.
When cleanup time approaches, we send out email calls for volunteers, so everyone has a chance to jump in. If you’re on the neighborhood list, you’ll always know when the next event is coming up.
A few ongoing tips to keep our stream clean between events:
- Pick up driveway newspaper inserts (like the Observer’s weekly packet). If left behind, they wash straight into the storm drains and end up in our stream.
- Dog walkers: please toss poop bags in your own trash — not in gutters or yards. They don’t break down and eventually wash into the water system.