The Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service invites volunteers to participate in a guided canoe trip and Watershed Discovery Day.
The event will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 13, beginning with check-in at the Dr. Curtis Merrill Access near Wal-Mart Supercenter. The access is located on Ohio Street, according to a news release.
“It will be a fun filled day of citizen-science and watershed appreciation as Arkansas residents explore the bayou, remove litter from the waterway and learn about watershed protection,” according to the release.
Watersheds are systems of drainages across a landscape where precipitation collects and discharges into a common outlet, such as a river, streams, lake, or bayou.
In urban areas, water moves over lawns, city streets and other impervious surfaces to ditches and storm drains before being released into local waterways.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
“Residents whether living in the city limits or in the county are all members of a watershed community,” said Christine Cooley, urban stormwater extension agent at the Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service. “Here in Pine Bluff, we share an environment with the birds, fish, and other animals, so how we treat the natural resource such as air, soil, and water effects the health of not only our watershed but larger watersheds downstream,” Cooley said.
There are many ways that people can preserve and protect local watersheds: explore and connect with a local park and recreation areas, plant a tree, don’t litter or pick it up when one sees it, and keep pesticides and herbicides away from rivers and streams, according to the release.
“Making the connection between urban activities and their impact on watersheds is important for creating a culture change on how people live and play in harmony with the environment,” Cooley said. “Events such as the Watershed Discovery Day will allow residents to explore nature while also making that connection to the importance of water quality protection.”
The Delta Rivers Nature Center will be providing canoes for participants who don’t have their own boats. Reservations for canoes can be made with the Jefferson County Extension Service and all supplies will be provided at the check-in station.
Details: Christine Cooley at ccooley@uaex.edu or visit www.uaex.edu.
The Jefferson County Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture which offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without discrimination.