Quarterly Report NWA Regional Storm Water Education Program August - October 2007 Task 2 - Educational Material Development 2.1 Develop storm water fact sheets, brochures and posters A series of eight urban stormwater 10-question Watershed Challenge quizzes were developed for the Illinois River Watershed Partnership s weekly challenge. Weekly topics ranged from Watersheds 101, Only Rain Down the Drain, Vehicle Maintenance, and Lawn and Garden Care to Managing Waste, Erosion Control, Mulching and Composting, and Rain Barrels. One-page resource sheets that included several paragraphs of background information and bulleted lists of key points and viewer actions were developed for Drew Michaels (ABC 40/29 s Chief Meteorologist) for each of his 8-week Watershed Wednesdays. Fact sheets were developed on Rain Barrels and Rain Gardens Capture the Flow and Watch it Grow!. Finalized and printed the Illinois River Watershed educational poster/map. A tri-fold brochure summarizing the NWA Regional Urban Stormwater Education Program and providing quick tips on protecting stormwater runoff was developed and is awaiting printing. 2.2 Develop storm water briefs Press releases were developed on the Illinois River Watershed Partnership s online My Watershed Challenge and the Rain Barrel Workshop/ My Watershed Challenge grand prize drawing event at the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. Short water smarts blocks were developed for placement in the Lowell and Bentonville winter newsletters. 2.3 Develop stormwater displays New displays were developed 1) for the Rogers and Fayetteville Teacher Expos (highlighting hands-on youth education programming), 2) for the 2 nd annual Beaver Lake Secchi Day (promoting homeowner stormwater pollution prevention BMPs), and 3) the Wal Mart Sustainability Fair (featuring lawn/garden decisions and practices to stormwater runoff impacts). A poster entitled, What s the Bang for Your Buck Impacts of An Urban NPS Mass Media Campaign was developed for the CSREES Southern Region Water Quality Conference held in Fayetteville. 2.5 Develop industry-specific fact sheets In response to a request form local native plant suppliers as well as the general public, a Potential Native Plants for Northwest Arkansas Rain Gardens list was developed.
Task 3 - Public Outreach 3.1 Mass media promotion From August 5 th through September 26 th, four versions of the Take the Watershed Challenge, newspaper print ads rotated weekly among The Morning News, the Arkansas Democrat- Gazette, The Lincoln Leader, The Prairie Grove Enterprise, and The Farmington Post. From August 5th through September 27 th, the My Watershed Challenge weekly online quizzes were hosted on www.irwp.org. More than 1,400 entries were submitted when participants learned about watersheds and urban NPS pollution prevention as they worked through 10- question weekly quizzes. From August 8 th through September 26 th, CES and IRWP also partnered with our local ABC affiliate 40/29 KHOG/KHBS for eight Watershed Wednesday segments that were featured during the 5:00, 6:00, and 10:00 p.m. weather broadcasts. Chief Meteorologist, Drew Michaels, used bulleted lists of urban BMPs on-screen to explain why homeowner BMPs are good actions for everyone. The We Took the Challenge and Won! print ad listing the 7 weekly winners and a photo of the Grand Prize Winner was featured in the October 7 th Arkansas Democrat-Gazette From August 5 th through September 27 th, radio PSAs promoting the Watershed Challenge were announced 3 times daily on KUAF 91.3FM. From August 5th through September 27 th, Are Your Ready to Take the Watershed Challenge? 30-second PSAs ran repeatedly on 14 local television stations. From October 15-31.Public service announcements where developed on composting and yard waste management that ran for 2 weeks on the local Hispanic radio station - La Zeta The Z, FM 95.7 3.2 Displays at libraries, banks, schools, etc. On August 17 th, booths promoting school urban NPS water quality education programming were staffed during the Rogers and Fayetteville School Districts Education Expos. On August 25 th, an informational booth and the EnviroScape were sued to promote urban stormwater pollution prevention at the 2 nd annual Beaver Lake Secchi Day at the Prairie Creek pavilion in Rogers. On September 14 th, CES faculty and Benton County Master Gardeners staffed an informational booth during the Sustainability Fair for Wal Mart Home Office employees featuring a rain barrel, the EnviroScape runoff model, soil testing, rain gardens. Permanent signage was installed at the eight Fayetteville demonstration rain gardens. The What s the Bang for Your Buck Impacts of An Urban NPS Mass Media Campaign posted was presented during the CSREES Southern Region Water Quality Conference held in Fayetteville.
On October 13, Informational display Drive to a cleaner Environment English and Spanish at Bentonville Library and Rogers Activity Center. 3.6 Green Business program On June 17-18, 2007, a CPESC Review Course and Exam were held in Rogers (29 participated in the review, 24 participants took the exam). As part of the 9 th Annual EPA MS4 Operators Conference, 96 individuals from the construction and engineering community participated in a tour of erosion and sediment BMPs being installed and inspected in the field. Task 4 - Public Education 4.1 Hands-on youth water quality programs On September 26 th, a program on Arkansas landuses and water resources was presented to Owl Creek Elementary School 6 th grade classes (121 students). On October 25 th, a program on precipitation, rain gauges and runoff was presented to Wills Shaw Elementary School 3 rd grades classes in Springdale (76 students). On August 14, a program Drop in the Bucket and underground waters simulator on conservation and recycling the water was presented at Elm tree Elementary 4 grade class. (24 students) On September 20, a program on recycling and rain conservation (Rain Stick) was presented to preschool - Bentonville Headstart. (28) On September 25, held a water celebration program and made a Rain Stick at Rogers Library. (24 children) On September 27, a program on the Fish Print was held at Russell Jones Elementary. (75 children) On October 13, Incredible Journey program at Bentonville Library. (20 participants) 4.2 Presentations to adult audiences On August 2 nd, a presentation/tour of the Fayetteville demonstration rain garden project and the role of rain gardens in reducing urban runoff and NPS pollution featured during a Trash Busters Teacher In-Service Training (51 participants). On August 30 th, an overview of the accomplishments/impacts of the Illinois River Watershed Urban NPS Outreach 319 project was presented during a meeting with EPA, ANRC, ADEQ and IRWP Watershed Advisory Group members (15 participants). On September 11 th, a presentation on urbanizing watershed dynamics and urban NPS issues/pollution prevention BMPs (particularly in the Illinois River Watershed) was given to a UA Agricultural Issues class (17 students)
On September 12 th, an overview of the accomplishments/impacts of the Illinois River Watershed Urban NPS Outreach 319 project was presented during the Arkansas /Oklahoma Arkansas River Compact Commission Environmental Committee meeting (23 present). On September 25 th, an update on the IRWP 319 education and outreach grant was presented to the Fayetteville City Council during their Agenda Session (27 present). On September 29th, 3 rain barrel workshops, soil testing, rain gardens and other home lawn and garden NPS pollution prevention BMPs were featured during the BGO Grand Opening Kickoff and the IRWP s Watershed Challenge Grand Prize Drawing event. On October 17 th, a presentation on the accomplishments/impacts of the Illinois River Watershed Urban NPS Outreach 319 project was presented at the CSREES Southern Region Water Quality Conference (12 present). Task 5 - Public Participation 5.1 Master Gardeners A total of 13 Washington County Master Gardeners reported more than 70 hours of volunteer time working on the demonstration rain gardens in Fayetteville. 5.2 Staff displays at local fairs and festivals On September 14 th, CES faculty and Benton County Master Gardeners staffed an informational booth during the Sustainability Fair for Wal Mart Home Office employees featuring a rain barrel, the EnviroScape runoff model, soil testing, rain gardens. Task 7 Evaluation and Reporting 7.1 Evaluate public education programs Results of the Region 6 MS4 Operators Conference evaluation are attached. Responses from 23 of 48 follow-up mail surveys sent 3-7 months after participants brought soil samples to weekend Dirt Drop-Off events for soil testing indicated that 78% followed the CES fertilizer application recommendations and 30% appreciated the weekend drop-off opportunity because they have work schedules that do not allow them to bring samples to the local Extension office during normal business hours. Upcoming Programs: November: 1 st - Landforms/water resources programs for Willis Shaw Elementary 3 rd grades (Springdale) 8 th - Water Quality programs for Willis Shaw 3 rd grade classes 13 th Presentation to the Illinois River Watershed Partnership Board of Directors 14 th Water resources/conservation program for Westwood 3 grade classes (Springdale) 21 st -? Oil recycling PSA begins running on Spanish radio station December: 7 th Present program/panel discussion at Essential Elements for Successful Watershed Planning workshop (Fayetteville)
11 th MS$ Steering Committee meeting (Fayetteville) 12 th Soils program for Shiloh 5 th grade classes (Springdale) December/January: - Creek sign locations/wording for Benton County, and hopefully Rogers - Develop/send pollution prevention inserts with Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers and Bentonville utility mailings January: 8 th Low Impact Gardening presentation during 2007 Washington County Master Gardener training (Fayetteville) 10 th Rain Gardens presentation during 2007 Washington County Master Gardener training (Fayetteville) 18 th - Low Impact Gardening presentation during 2007 Benton County Master Gardener training (Bentonville) February: 12 th & 14 th - Water resource/conservation presentation to Thomas Jefferson Elem. (Bentonville) 21 st Rain Gardens Capture the Flow and Watch it Grow presentation at the 2007 Urban Forestry Council conference (Eureka Springs) TBA - Urban Stormwater Forum for Municipal Officials (Lowell?) 24 th & 31 st Water resource/conservation presentation to Cooper Elementary 4 th graders (Bella Vista Bentonville school district) March: 8 th - Rain Gardens Capture the Flow and Watch it Grow presentation at the Caring for Creation conference (Fayetteville) TBA Construction Stormwater BMPs for Utilities workshop (TBD)