Braden Burnside leads a team of volunteers who assisted him in the stencil work involved in his Eagle Scout project.

Braden Burnside, a senior at Hurricane High School and member of Scouts BSA Troop 236, formulated an Eagle Scout Project which is designed to increase community awareness of Hurricane’s stormwater system and decrease misuse of storm drains that empty into the city reservoir or local streams.

In October, Burnside coordinated and led a team of more than 27 youth and adult volunteers who stenciled “Only Rain Down the Drain” on sidewalk curbs above 250 storm drains between Hurricane Middle School and Hospital Drive in Hurricane.

“I was glad to learn Braden wanted to take on this project,” said Ronnie Woodall, utility superintendent for the City of Hurricane. “As a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) city, we must satisfy all the requirements set for by the state of West Virginia (DEP) to prevent water pollution.”

This project was approved by the Scouts BSA Buckskin Council and funded by City of Hurricane. Farley’s Famous Hotdogs donated lunch and Tudor’s Biscuit World provided discount breakfast sandwiches for the workday volunteers.

“Ultimately, this project will benefit the entire community by increasing awareness of the need to protect stormwater by not dumping waste into drains feeding into our water system,” Burnside said. “I was humbled that so many family, friends and fellow Scouts were willing to give up an entire Saturday to make this happen.”

In addition to coordinating the stencil painting workday, Burnside has created photo and video content for the City of Hurricane and social media. He also plans to present his presentation at an upcoming City Council meeting.