A Commitment to Clean Water from local Quad City Sierra Club members draws
attention from a National Sierra Club leader.
Davenport, IA: The local Eagle View Group of Sierra Club is drawing
attention from a National leader. On August 13th, Scott Dye, National
Director of the Sierra Club Water Sentinels Program will visit the Quad
Cities to recognize the work of a newly formed and recently trained group of
volunteers in the Quad Cities Sierra Club Water Sentinels program. The
Sierra Club is America"s oldest, largest and most influential grassroots
environmental organization with over 1.3 million members committed to
protecting our communities and the planet. The bi-state Sierra Club Eagle
View Group covers 6 counties of Iowa and Illinois and has nearly 700 local
members.
The Sierra Club Water Sentinels program trains volunteers to collect water
samples and monitor data with the goal of getting these waterways cleaned
up. They"re currently working on nine projects in seven states, the Quad
Cities project being the newest location.
"It"s beautiful, the way streams and rivers in the Quad City area weave
their way into the Mississippi River. Taking an active role in monitoring
our waterways is a way to help ensure that the water flowing into the
Mississippi is for its benefit not detriment." states Kristen Bergren, a
member of the Quad City Sierra Club Water Sentinels and Chair of the local
Eagle View Group.
"When the Clean Water Act was passed in 1972, it stated two goals: that
there would be zero discharge of pollutants into the nation"s waterways by
1985, and that waterways would be "fishable and swimable" by mid-1983.
Today, industry is still discharging approximately 7 billion pounds of toxic
chemicals into the environment annually and 40 percent of America"s
waterways are unsuitable for fishing and swimming," states Scott Dye,
National Director of Sierra Club Water Sentinels Program, "The Sierra Club"s
national program works to inform and empower citizens to monitor and protect
their local waterways."
Twenty Quad City members of the Sierra Club have formed the local Water
Sentinels group and are monitoring 14 waterways in the Illinois Quad City
area. Water samples are taken monthly by the local volunteers which are then
tested, analyzed and recorded to establish a data base which will help
determine the existing water quality and identify any future pollution. "We
all want clean, safe water for drinking, fishing, swimming and for our
children"s future; it is up to each of us to take an active role in making
it so," Jodi Zimmerman a member of the Quad City Sierra Club Water Sentinels
and a teacher at Davenport West High School. Zimmerman and her daughter,
Jessica, monitor Coal Creek.
National Director of the Sierra Club Water Sentinels, Scott Dye, will meet
with local Water Sentinels, visit some of the sites and assist in taking
water samples. Dye also expressed his admiration and respect for Chad
Pregracke and Living Lands & Waters for their nationally recognized efforts
to clean up the Mississippi River and many other American waterways. In
support of Pregracke"s achievements and also to show appreciation to the
Eagle View Group of Water Sentinels, Dye will be taking the group to Chad"s
2009 fundraising Barge Party the evening of August 13th. "The Quad Cities is
a unique place, marked by an east-west flow in the Mighty Mississippi River
and home to remarkable champions for our most precious resources; Water, Air
and Land. It"s an honor to be here," Dye said. "We knew this Quad City group
of Water Sentinels would to great things and they are already exceeding our
expectations."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To unsubscribe from the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]
Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp
To view the Sierra Club List Terms & Conditions, see:
http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/terms.asp
|
