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Bijou volunteer day sees high turnout

Jack Barnwell
jbarnwell@tahoedailytribune.com
Van Hackett, 3, removes a cluster of weeds from one of two stormwater filtration systems during a community volunteer day at Bijou Elementary School on Saturday, May 2. The event has been ongoing for six years.
Jack Barnwell / Tahoe Daily Tribune |

More than 70 parents, staff and students turned out on a sunny Saturday afternoon at Bijou Elementary School to beautify the campus and improve its best management practices (BMP) stormwater filtration system.

The annual service, organized by the Bijou Parent Teachers Association, included cleaning the grounds, weeding and clearing out the school’s two primary drainage/filtration system.

Kathy Haven, president of the PTA and event coordinator, said the event began six years ago with the Rotary Club.



“Ever since then we’ve done everything from big projects, like building picnic tables, putting boulders in and improving the playground,” Haven said. “This year, we’ve got so much done at Bijou that this has turned into a clean up day.”

The BMPs act as a natural filtration system for stormwater runoff before it hits the lake.



Parent volunteers have specifically designed two of Bijou’s of BMPs, located behind the main building. Haven said one system resembled the shape of Lake Tahoe, while the other one resembles a creek or stream.

“A few said that one of the tributaries flowed the wrong way but that was OK, and one dad said ‘the lake flows into Nevada, not California,’ Haven said. “When it actually rains, it looks like Lake Tahoe for a day.”

Another portion of the cleanup included prepping the area in advance of having two second-grade classes take over the native gardens.

“We’re just giving them a little head start,” Haven said.

Haven called it a nice community event that has evolved over the years.

“I think one of the things Bijou does well is involve the families and the kids so that they can give back to their own schools,” Haven said.


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