|
Niangua Water Festival
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
This minigrant will help to develop and implement a water quality festival for an estimated 800 fourth grade students living in the Niangua River and Pomme de Terre watersheds. The Niangua River watershed is a karst area, which includes sinkholes, losing streams, caves and permeable soils. These areas are extremely vulnerable to contamination by allowing surface runoff to enter groundwater or the Niangua River and its tributaries. Some specific concerns in this watershed are pollution sources such as leaking septic tanks, animal confinement wastes and residential lawn care. The watershed area is also a major recreation area providing canoeing, fishing and other outdoor activities. Bennett Springs State Park (a major trout fishing area) is also located in the project area. The final destination of the Niangua River is the Lake of the Ozarks, which also provides extensive recreation including boating and swimming. The Pomme de Terre River watershed has little movement of water into the subsurface due to the stony red clay lining. Almost all water movement is through the surface stream network. Some pollution concerns in this watershed include animal waste management and residential lawn care. The Pomme de Terre River flows into the Pomme de Terre Reservoir, which is used for recreational purposes such as boating, fishing, swimming and other outdoor activities.
OBJECTIVES
Hands-on activities will be developed to provide interactive learning for approximately 800 school children in the fourth grade. The students will participate in interactive displays designed to educate them about water quality issues and give them an opportunity to learn about water quality, conservation and pollution prevention. Interactive learning stations will help students learn how petroleum products, pesticides, fertilizers, household hazardous waste, household wastewater and animal manure can be sources of water pollution. Students will also learn about the physical and chemical properties of water, best management practices that protect ground and surface water, water conservation techniques, environmentally friendly alternative cleaning products and farm practices such as rotational grazing and proper animal waste management. In addition, they will learn how their actions can influence water quality as well as the entire ecosystem. Teachers will gain first-hand knowledge in interactive teaching that impresses upon students the importance of improving and maintaining water quality.
Twenty-five teachers will learn how to incorporate interactive learning stations into various areas of curriculums. Through drama, composition, debate, theater and music, teachers and students will learn how to voice their opinions to local, state and federal legislators.
PRODUCTS
The project will last from October 1, 1996 - April 30, 1997
PROJECT SPONSOR
University of Missouri Extension Council of Dallas Co
COOPERATING AGENCIES
Department of Health, Department of Conservation, Department of Natural Resources, EPA Region 7, University of Missouri Extension and the local Soil and Water Conservation District
CONTACT
University of Missouri Extension Council of Dallas Co.
P.O. Box 1070
Bolivar, MO 65622
Karen Ross 417-345-7551
|
