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Meramec Region Children's Festival 2001: A Splash Odyssey
The Meramec Region is a seven-county area in south central Missouri that includes Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps and Washington counties. The region is primarily rural, covers 4,586 square miles, has an estimated population of 133,604 and includes the following watersheds: Meramec, Gasconade, Maries, Missouri and Osage. The area is experiencing considerable growth, with expansions occurring at a near-by military base and several large employers moving into the area.
The region is considered a part of the Ozarks, a karst region characterized by springs, sinkholes, caves and clear running streams. It is a popular tourist destination due to the natural beauty of the area and many of the local businesses depend upon campers and canoeists. However, the same geology that makes the area so beautiful also makes our water resources particularly vulnerable to contamination. Surface water and groundwater resources are interchangeable and pollution moves quickly through the fractured bedrock into the groundwater systems. Historically the Meramec Region has enjoyed good quality drinking water and surface water resources but a variety of nonpoint pollution sources pose a threat to our water systems.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Areas of concern include individual sewer and drinking water systems, the effects of agricultural activities, construction and development run-off and the general strain of a rapidly growing population. Perhaps the largest obstacle to protecting local waters is the lack of understanding of local residents on how our water systems operate in the Ozarks. Many people still believe that our groundwater, including local springs, originate in some far-flung place like the Rocky Mountains. There is general ignorance about local recharge areas for springs, the fact that sinkholes are conduits to the groundwater systems and that the geology of the region does not allow for "filtering" of the water as it passes from the surface to groundwater. The advisory committee for the children's water festival is determined to educate the region's residents, particularly our children, in order to assure the future preservation of our water resources.
The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) with the assistance of a regionally derived steering committee will organize and host an event focusing on water quality awareness. This event will take place at the University of Missouri campus in Rolla and will be targeted at middle school aged children. There will be 25 to 30 presenters at this event. The presentations will include information on the basic principles of surface and ground water systems, threats of pesticides and fertilizers, agricultural and urban issues, drinking water and waste water treatment, wellhead protection, stormwater and construction site runoff, karst geology, wetlands, stream issues, water quality monitoring, aquatic wildlife habitat, and watershed concepts.
OBJECTIVES
1. Provide a quality, hands-on educational experience for middle school children in the Meramec Region on our water resources, how they work, how they are threatened and what we can do to protect them for future generations;
2. Continue to build and expand a partnership of agencies, organizations, businesses, schools and individuals in the region to work together to promote and educate the public on water quality issues; and
3. Build enough local support for the festival to make it self-sustaining.
PRODUCTS
1. Have at least 1,000 students attend the event and gain new understanding of water issues.
2. Have at least 30 activities scheduled for the event.
3. Have a 75% approval rating in the evaluations.
PROJECT SPONSOR
Meramec Regional Children's Festival 2001
COOPERATING AGENCY
EPA/DNR
CONTACT
Meramec Regional Planning Commission
4 Industrial Drive
St. James MO 65559
Tamara Snodgrass 573-522-2554
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