FIRST WAVE GATHERING
On January
28, 2004, at 9 a.m., WAVE (Water Awareness for the Vanderburgh Environment)
gathered 26 people representing neighborhood associations, state and local
government employees, university representatives, and citizens in general who
are concerned about the world’s environment. The event took place at the 4-H
Center Exhibition Hall Conference Room.
The gathering commenced with Holly McCutchan (Vanderburgh County Soil and Water Conservation board member and WAVE task force initiator) welcoming the group and talking a little about what “we” as a community can achieve through collaborative efforts. Holly introduced Brenda Jeffers (Education and Public Outreach Coordinator, Vanderburgh County Surveyors Office and WAVE task force initiator). Brenda talked about the first meeting of WAVE and introduced three other task force initiators: Bonnie Bittner (SWCD Executive Director), Norma Duckworth (SWCD Water Quality Specialist), and Pam Pelaski (Vanderburgh Surveyor’s Public Involvement and Input Coordinator).
Brenda
also introduced Susan Schultz (Project Wet Coordinator, Indiana Department of
Natural Resources). Susan spoke to the crowd about water quality education and
the importance of communities forming groups who will work together to start
educational hands-on programs in neighborhoods, schools, youth groups, and
other civic organizations.
Susan
introduced Lisa Bales (Storm Drain Project Coordinator, Indiana Department of
Natural Resources). Lisa presented “Let’s Protect Our Water.” A PowerPoint
featuring maps, aerial photos, graphs, pollution photos. Lisa’s presentation
included how communities can mark storm drains. Marking storm drains is a way
to make the public aware that storm drains can carry contaminated storm water
from non-point source pollution to our ponds, streams, lakes, and rivers.
Bill
Jeffers, Vanderburgh County Surveyor, addressed the group about the surveyor’s
new Web site riverfriendly.com. He talked about the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II, Clean Water Act, and the Best
Management Practices (BMP) required to carry out the
terms of this legislation. Bill mentioned that on the riverfriendly
Web site a BMP link exists. He also introduced the surveyor’s BMP Team
consisting of Brenda Jeffers (Education and Public Outreach
Coordinator), Monica Freeman (Pollution Prevention and Resource
Management Coordinator), and Pam Pelaski (Public Involvement and Input
Coordinator).
Amy
Steeples (Resource Specialist, Indiana Department of Natural Resources)
presented a short informative and instructional message about stream
monitoring. She brought various testing kits and tools used to monitor water
quality. She also displayed a group of preserved macroinvertebrates.
Amy discussed one-on-one with some of the meeting attendees about personal
pollution problems in neighborhood ponds and streams.
Rick Obenshain (Resource Conservation and Development Area
(RC&D) Assistant)
talked to the group about the Highland/Pigeon Watershed clean-up
project. He also addressed a new project to clean up Locust Creek. Rick
answered a lot of questions from the attendees.
Susan
Schultz wrapped up the meeting with a question and answer session. The groups
exchanged names, business cards, email addresses, and resources.
The
event ended about
or