Environmental News NEWS MEDIA ADVISORY (Kansas…
Environmental News
NEWS MEDIA ADVISORY
(Kansas City, Kan., Sept. 30, 2011) - A team of
EPA scientists, Center High School students and Blue River
Watershed Association volunteers will monitor water quality,
examine aquatic life and clean up Indian Creek in Kansas City, Mo.
The outdoor classroom will be used to teach students how they can
become involved in preventing pollution through environmental
stewardship activities.
Approximately 30 students will be conducting 10
tests to determine the water quality of Indian Creek and pick up
trash along the creek. EPA is working with schools to highlight the
importance of water monitoring and give students the opportunity to
collect measurements side by side with EPA scientists. The students
also will learn about the stream's habitats and how various land
uses and urban runoff can affect a watershed.
Environmental education projects enhance public
awareness, knowledge and skills to help people make informed
decisions that affect environmental quality. Students will learn
about native plants, habitats, ecosystems and water
monitoring.
WHAT: News conference, water monitoring and
stream cleanup
WHEN: 1:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. news conference;
and 1:45 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. water monitoring and stream cleanup,
Oct. 7, 2011
WHERE: Indian Creek behind Trailside Center,
9901 Holmes Road, Kansas City, Mo., 64131. Parking spaces are
available for the news media in the parking lot.
WHO: EPA Region 7 Acting Deputy Administrator
Mark Hague and Blue River Watershed Association Education Director
Kate Delehunt
EPA is partnering with the Blue River Watershed
Association, a grassroots community organization that engages the
Kansas City metropolitan community in protecting the Blue River
watershed. The organization works with school districts in both
Kansas and Missouri to teach students about the importance of good
water quality to health, recreation and the quality of life in
watersheds. The Blue River drains much of the Kansas City
metropolitan area south of the Kansas and Missouri
rivers.
Throughout October, there will be a number of
educational events taking place across the country. October is
Children's Health Month, when EPA brings awareness to environmental
issues such as watershed health, which is important to providing
clean, safe water where Americans live, work and play. These are
opportunities in which parents and teachers can learn about
environmental issues affecting children, how they are being
addressed more effectively at the local level, and the simple
actions they can take to restore the nation’s
watersheds.
Learn more about EPA's Children’s Health Program
Learn more about EPA’s Environmental Education Program
Learn about water quality in the Kansas City area at www.kcwaters.org
Locate this and other Region 7 news items on the News Where You Live interactive map
Connect with EPA Region 7 on Facebook: www.facebook.com/eparegion7
