Hillsdale Watershed Festival
Since
1970, the month of April is a time to take action protecting the Earth and it's
resources. Each year April 22 marks the anniversary of Earth Day, the first
environmental celebration to promote awareness about environmental concerns and
to make the concerns a national priority. Earth Day is now observed by more than
500 million people in 175 countries worldwide.
Hillsdale Water Quality Project (Project) joins many local organizations and agencies in celebrating Earth Day by hosting and participating in student and youth activities within the community. The Project hosted the Seventh Annual Hillsdale Watershed Festival, April 23, 2010, at the Spring Hill Civic Center.
The school-based event attracts approximately 350 Spring Hill Middle School and Wheatridge Middle School students, teachers and volunteers. Representatives from various organizations and agencies provide their expertise in hands-on learning activities to educate students about watershed, water quality, water conservation and natural resources. The students take notes on the activities they participate in and are tested in the classroom on the material they learn during the event.
For more information about this event or to provide an educational activity, please contact Jennie Fyock at 913-829-9414.
Fishing Line Recycle Bins Installed at Hillsdale Lake!
Hillsdale Water Quality Project and Kansas
Department of Wildlife and Parks installed three monofilament, or fishing line,
recycling bins in March, 2009.
The monofilament recycling bins' use is essential in keeping fishing line off the shores and out of the water. This is a pilot program meant to create new opportunities for Hillsdale Lake recreational users to actively improve water quality.
The three bins provide
convenience at accessible sites. The bins are located at the Jayhawker Boat
Ramp, Marysville Boat Ramp and the Spillway at Hillsdale Lake. Project staff
gathers, cleans and
submits the collected fishing line so that it will be recycled into items such
as: tackle boxes, underwater fish structures and other fishing related items.
Missouri Stream Team, in partnership with Berkley Pure Fishing, donated the PVC monofilament recycling bins to HWQP for use at Hillsdale Lake. The monofilament recycling program was funded by a Johnson County Stormwater Management Advisory Council Education and Outreach grant funded through a Johnson County stormwater tax.
Participants Collect Information About Rain Barrels
A series of five, free rain barrel workshops were provided to Johnson County
residents this year. The workshops featured
demonstrations by Hillsdale Water Quality Project staff on how to make and use a
rain barrel. Each household participating assembled and took home one free rain
barrel. Approximately 150 participants took home 120 rain barrels funded through
this program.
A rain barrel is used to store roof runoff by connecting the barrel to gutter downspouts. The collected water is great for watering plants and gardens during dry times and saves on water usage. A house with a 1,000 square foot roof can harvest 600 gallons of water during a one-inch rainfall. Participants were encouraged to make more rain barrels after leaving the workshop.
The workshops were held to educate homeowners about the importance of using rain barrels: Spring Hill Community Center ~ April 7; De Soto Wastewater Treatment Facility ~ April 14; Edgerton City Hall ~ April 28; Gardner Senior Center ~ April 29; and Spring Hill Farmer's Market ~ July 17.
Rain barrel workshops were funded by a Johnson County Stormwater Management Advisory Council Education and Outreach grant funded through a Johnson County stormwater tax.
For a List of Rain Barrel Supplies, Assembly Instructions and Tips Click HERE!
Home School Program
In
2008, Hillsdale Water Quality Project partnered with the Kansas Association for
Conservation and Environmental Education to provide
an event to train and engage home school parents in hands-on learning projects
from Project WET and Project Learning Tree environmental education curriculum
guides.
The "Home School Environmental Education Workshop and Festival", a full-day event, was held on February 4, 2009 in Spring Hill. The workshop offered the opportunity for local home school parents and youths to be involved in environmental education activities to enrich their home curriculum.
During the morning session, home school parents
learned how to use and incorporate Project WET and Project Learning Tree into
their curriculum, while their children attended an educational water festival.
Representatives from the Kansas Rural Water Association, Kansas Department of
Health and Environment, Miami County Conservation District and the Kansas
Department of Wildlife and Parks, educated the students about water, wildlife,
conservation and soil by providing hands-on activities.
Parents then used their knowledge in the afternoon to teach their children hands-on, environmental education activities.
The home school program was sponsored by a Johnson County Stormwater Management Advisory Council Education and Outreach grant funded through Johnson County Stormwater Management Program.
2010 Workshop
Information Coming Soon!
If you are interested in participating, please contact Jennie Fyock at
913-829-9414.
EnviroScape
Presentations Provided to
Local Schools
and Organizations
The EnviroScape is a three-dimensional,
interactive watershed model that includes a construction site, residential area,
forested hills, factory, and a lake. The model demonstrates the movement of
water through a watershed. Information Specialist, Jennie Fyock, discusses
non-point source pollution and how to improve water quality. This activity is
popular with students, likely due to the cocoa and flavored drink mix used to
represent pollutants. This demonstration is available for K-8th grade students,
but is most often requested for 3rd-4th grade. The presentation requires fifteen
minutes to one hour, depending on the amount of detail preferred. Due to the
size of the model, this program is best suited for groups of 25 students or
less. For more information, or to schedule your demonstration, contact
Information Specialist, Jennie Fyock at (913)829-9414.
Property
Owners May Purchase Lily Raintainers
Property owners may
purchase lily raintainers from Johnson County Stormwater Management
Program (JCSMP). Lily is a decorative 55-gallon rain barrel with a self-watering
planter installed
in the lid.
Lilies may be purchased for $125 each (limit of two per household),
by contacting JCSMP at
(913) 715-8300.
Program requirements follow:
° Applicant is solely
responsible for installation and all materials not included in the Lily Kit.
° Lily must be installed
within 30 days of purchase.
° Lily must remain
operational for five years.
° Applicant must complete
post surveys given within 12 months of purchase.
Click Here for More Information!
Event Promotions:
Monofilament Recycling Program Press Release 2009
Home School Program Press Release 2009
Home School Flyer 2009
Rain Barrel Workshops Press Release 2009
Litter Clean Ups Press Release 2009
Hillsdale Watershed Festival Press Release 2009
Shawnee Mission Park Water Festival Press Release 2009
Layman's Guide to Kansas'
Water Terminology and Acronyms
A Guide for Stakeholders, Agency Representatives, Commission and Board
Members
and Everyone Interested
in Kansas' Water
Resources!