Free workshops teach science of stream assessment

Contact: Ken Cooke 502-564-3410

FRANKFORT, Ky. (March 28, 2006) -- How clean is your creek?  Is it safe to swim, fish and enjoy? 

Kentucky’s Watershed Watch program is offering a series of free workshops to train people to find answers to those questions.

Participants will learn about stream ecology, water chemistry and biology – and get their feet wet alongside some of Kentucky’s leading stream scientists. After training, participants will be asked to choose a stream, river, lake, wetland or cave system to monitor, then pay several visits over the summer to collect data on its condition.

Participants also will collect water samples for delivery to professional labs for analysis. The training will cover the proper collection, preservation and transport of samples to a lab.  Data from the analysis will be returned to volunteers so they can see actual water quality values for their chosen streams.  Monitoring data will also be used by state and local agencies, research organizations and cleanup programs such as PRIDE – Personal Responsibility in a Desirable Environment.

To find out more about the project or register online, visit the project's Web site: http://kywater.org/join.htm.  Select an area of the state, check dates of workshops in the area and complete the registration form. You can also call 800-928-0045, ext. 473.  A map of sampling stations is on this Web page:  http://kywater.org/watch/2000/ .

Watershed Watch is a statewide citizens’ monitoring effort to improve and protect water quality by raising community awareness and supporting implementation of the goals of the Clean Water Act.