Department of Environmental Protection Storm Drain Art Contest Accepting Entries

The Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is now accepting entries for the 2019 edition of the “Storm Drain Art Contest” that uses creative art to emphasize the connection between storm drains, streams and the Chesapeake Bay.

The deadline to submit entries is 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 22. In April, the art work of five contest winners will be painted on storm drains in Germantown in honor of Earth Day.

“Many county residents are not aware of the impact our actions have on water quality,” said Patty Bubar, interim director of DEP. “While people try to do the right thing, they do not make the connection that anything that ends on the ground eventually will make its way to our rivers and streams. Litter or any material from overflowing trash and recycling containers, excess fertilizer and pesticides from lawns, plus oil and grease from cars, can pollute local waterways and eventually make its way to the Chesapeake Bay.”

DEP believes painting storm drains with educational messages not only brings these important issues to the community, but also beautifies areas with art. This year, the department is partnering with the County’s Upcounty Regional Services Center to emphasize the importance of the program.

Entries will be accepted in the following categories:

• Montgomery County Animals and Streams
• Environment and Youth (for ages 16 and under only)
• Fight Litter
• Water

The submissions should be colorful, creative, original and easy to reproduce. Each design must include a short tagline or message—in any language—related to the chosen category. The artist can choose their preferred style, but the final entry should be a .jpg, .png or .pdf of the design. A photograph submission of the final piece also will be accepted

The winner in each of the four categories will be selected by a panel. An additional fifth winner will be decided by a public vote via Facebook and email.

Storm drain art, including the winning entries from the 2015 and 2018 contest, currently are visible at the Aspen Hill, Germantown and Kensington Park libraries, the White Oak Community Recreation Center and in the Wheaton Urban District.  Those storm drains educate on litter, picking up pet waste and the connection between storm drains and streams. Some of the messages are in both English and Spanish.

The 2019 contest is hosted by DEP and the Upcounty Regional Services Center, in collaboration with the Muddy Branch Alliance, the Seneca Creek Watershed Partnership, the Department of Transportation and Montgomery Parks.

For more information on the contest and how to enter, go to mygreenmontgomery.org/art.

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