'Save the Rain' is aimed at cleaning up and fixing up, so that rain runoff overflows do not continue to pollute the Onondaga Lake Watershed.

Deputy Onondaga County Executive Matthew Millea says there are lots of projects in the works, including a $3-million dollar upgrade to the government building corridor in downtown Syracuse that will mean recycling rain water to make hockey ice at the War Memorial, and a 'natural' roof at the Civic Center complex. In addition, there are 50 projects around Syracuse aimed at reducing surface runoff into storm sewers (the decades-old systems were built that way, but the rain overflow backs up sewage treatment and ultimately means polluted water into creeks and Onondaga Lake.)

Save the Rain also has 'personal' changes:  in Syracuse, homeowners can get rain barrels to put under downspouts, and there's work at changing city codes so that more environmentally friendly materials can be used in sidewalks and driveways.

For an update on the many projects underway, FOCUS Greater Syracuse is doing a progress report on Friday, April 15th at 7:30am at Syracuse City Hall Commons (201 E. Washington St).  There are also neighborhood meetings scheduled through the spring and summer on making ecologically smart changes to landscaping.