fyi, Here is some news about the Iowa City Area Group's Water Quality Monitoring Training Session. We had media coverage 2 days prior to the event and the day following in our local paper. The paper's (Iowa City Press Citizen) coverage brought several non-members to the training session and active participation from the Iowa City Water Department spokesperson. The city spokesperson stated that the city may be able to financally help us purchase additional kits or supplies. Additionally, if we notify them about our testing dates and locations, they are willing to run water tests on the same water bodies so that we can compare data. This could be both beneficial and/or detrimental, but at least they were receptive to our plans. Hope all goes well with your own group's plans. Rex Bavousett --- begin forwarded text From: Stephen Pradarelli <<[log in to unmask]> Subject: Water Quality Demonstration draws good turnout CONTACT: Steve Pradarelli Newsletter Editor/Media Specialist Sierra Club, Iowa City Area Group (319) 341-6106 [log in to unmask] RELEASE: Immediate July 23, 1999 SIERRA CLUB HOLDS WATER QUALITY TESTING DEMONSTRATION AT RALSTON CREEK IOWA CITY, IA -- Almost 20 people attended a water quality testing demonstration by the Sierra Club along Ralston Creek Thursday, July 22. Jennifer Hensley, Iowa coordinator for the Sierra Club's "Waterproof!" Water Quality Campaign, showed members of the Iowa City chapter Area Group and local residents how to test the water's temperature, oxygen and nitrate levels and Ph balance, which is a measure of its acidity. The demonstration took place along a stretch of the creek that runs alongside the Chauncey-Swan Parking Ramp at Washington and Van Buren streets. This spring the Iowa Chapter of the Sierra Club received a grant from its national office to conduct an environmental public education campaign on water quality, wetlands and concentrated animal feeding operations. The Iowa City Area Group is one of eight Sierra Club groups in Iowa. By this fall, the Iowa City group plans to buy at least one of the $150 testing kits, which contain enough equipment to take multiple water samples, and begin regular testing of selected Iowa City Johnson County waterways in an effort to establish chemical and biological profiles. Testing will take place a minimum of four times a year at selected bodies of water. The base-line data will allow the club and local and state regulatory agencies to better monitor water quality. Many human activities impact water quality, including fertilizer runoff from farms and chemically treated lawns. A second training session is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 18. People interested in "adopting" a water body near their homes and monitoring it at least four times a year may sign up for the training. Enrollment will be limited and teams of two to three people interested in testing the same area of a water body are encouraged to contact the Sierra Club. The Sierra Club is a national, non-profit organization that promotes the enjoyment and protection of natural resources through outings, public education and political action. For more information about the water quality program, contact Becky Soglin, conservation chair of the Iowa City Area Group, at (319) 351-6410. -30- --- end forwarded text ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Rex L. Bavousett University of Iowa Our old name: University Relations - Publications Our new name: University Communications & Outreach - Publications 100 OPL, Iowa City, IA 52242 http://www.uiowa.edu/~urpubs/ mailto:[log in to unmask] voice: 319 384-0053 fax: 319 384-0055 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^