Urban streams – the Challenge and the Opportunity 3/6/12

[DeBo]

This will be a very interesting program. If you live in Baxter or Marion County go or if you know someone else who might be interested let them know.

Urban streams – the Challenge and the Opportunity

Friends hosts speaker, Steve Filipek,
Assistant Chief of Fisheries,
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Tuesday, March 6, 2012 – 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
ASUMH Campus, McMullen Lecture Hall, Dryer Hall

Friends of the Rivers schedules Urban Streams Program

Steve Filipek, Assistant Chief of Fisheries for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will talk about ways to preserve the natural flow and design of urban streams while saving small towns and cities thousands of dollars. The event is scheduled for Tuesday, March 6 at 5:00 p.m. with program to start at 5:30 in McMullin Lecture Hall in the Dryer Hall on the ASUMH campus. All interested citizens are invited. For information call Friends of the North Fork and White Rivers at (870) 430-5777 or visit http://www.friendsoftherivers.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

The Goal of the event is to initiate a fresh conversation with key citizens in our watershed on the role of the urban stream in non-point source pollution, storm water runoff and development issues. Steve’s power point will provide numerous visuals of creative (and not so creative) choices made in Arkansas. He will highlight the work of various partner organizations and touch on some of the funding opportunities available.

Background Information
We see many streams where the riparian zone (the vegetation on the bank) has been scalped, it is unappealing to the eye, and its functional ability to filter runoff and provide habitat has been destroyed.

Many urban waterways have been polluted for years by sewage, runoff from city streets and contamination from abandoned industrial facilities. Healthy and accessible urban waters can help grow local businesses and enhance educational, recreational, employment and social opportunities in our towns and cities.

According to Steve Luoni, Chair of the Community Design Center at the University of Arkansas Fay Jones School of Architecture – Low Impact Development is important because the first hour of urban runoff from rainfall often has a contamination index far higher than that of raw sewage. http://architecture.uark.edu/88.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Partnerships addressing these concerns attract a variety of funding opportunities. In Arkansas the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission offers funding through its 319 program. The EPA has an Urban Waters program designed to revitalize communities, create jobs, and improve the quality of life in cities and towns.
http://www.epa.gov/urbanwaters/funding" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Additional Directions:
ASUMH is located at the South end of town in Mountain Home, Arkansas
Campus map at http://www.asumh.edu/about-us/campus-map.dot" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Dryer Hall is on SE side of campus
McMullin Lecture Hall is on the second floor, room D200
N36.3205 W92.3877

[Half Ton]

That's what I'm talkin about ! Go get'em stream team!

Thanks for posting up, Debo!

[Half Ton]

In giving Stream Team props I neglected to give credit to the Friends of the North Fork and White Rivers the group that has been working on this program for a while now.

A great watershed organization to help support, if you are into supporting watershed organizations. http://www.friendsoftherivers.org/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Also, a few more Stormwater Resources should anyone reading this want to help spread the word about how bad stormwater can be.....

Protecting Water Quality from Stormwater Runoff
http://www.uaex.edu/washington/podcast/ ... unoff.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Protecting water quality from Urban Stormwater Runoff
http://www.epa.gov/owow_keep/NPS/urban_facts.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Forests and Urban Stormwater
http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publica ... A-5029.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[prophet]

hey John, caught your name on NPR today re Clear Creek and another stream. Good work

[Half Ton]

You talkin bout this one http://www.kuaf.org/content/taming-neighborhood-creek" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.

Thanks man. That means a lot. It took 2.5 yrs for that to happen.

Now the idea is to use story's like hers to help inform unknowing streamside landowners AND municipal governments about beneficial streamside management practices and development practices to prevent hydrologic modifications of watersheds and accelerated stream bank erosion.

Also, I was glad Dave Evans got some time too as he was a good teammate to have.

AND it's almost time to get at least 100 letters about stream team importance and meed for more funding to al of the commissioners of the Agfc!

Many streamside landowners unfortunately do not understand how to take care of their stream although that is often their intention as they thin out the vegetation to get a better view of the creek.