Rivers Rally Kicks Off American Rivers Month
Over 40 workshops, canoe and river trips, research seminars and noted conservation speakers highlight this inaugural Indiana Rivers Rally. This event will be held June 7-9. The Rivers Institute at Hanover College and Purdue University are co-organizers. Forming a Indiana Rivers Alliance is one of the goals of this event. PLUS: Test your water knowledge.
Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) June 2, 2007 -- Indiana organizers are using American Rivers Month to launch a watershed event. June is American Rivers Month and the first statewide Indiana Rivers Rally will be held, June 7-9, at the Purdue University campus in West Lafayette. Gov. Mitch Daniels will officially proclaim June as Indiana Rivers Month at the Rivers Rally opening session.
With more than 40 workshops, plus scenic canoe and river field trips, panels, university research seminars and top conservation speakers, the Indiana Rivers Rally (www.indianariversrally.org) will offer ways that Hoosiers can be good stewards of Indiana's 35,000 miles of rivers and streams.
However, the safety and purity of Indiana's natural water resources are increasingly compromised. Many Indiana lakes and rivers are unsafe to swim in. Most Indiana waters have fish consumption advisories. Indiana watersheds are considered to be at "high risk" for contamination and aquifer vulnerability, due to high levels of nitrogen. (Source: IDEM). There is also pollution from E.coli, PCBs, mercury, dioxins, herbicides, chemicals and agricultural runoff.
"Rivers, streams and watersheds impact not only the quality of the water we drink and our recreational activities, but also are directly tied to the economics of the state and maintaining our culture and history," said Brent Ladd, Purdue University co-chair of the Rivers Rally. "Indiana has more river and stream miles than miles of roads maintained by the state department of transportation," Ladd added. "We are blessed with a huge resource, but it needs protecting."
"Indiana is nicknamed the 'crossroads of America.' But as a state, we are at a crossroads when it comes to preserving our waterways and watersheds," said Molly Dodge, event co-chair from the Rivers Institute at Hanover College.
"Forming an Indiana Rivers Alliance is one of our goals at the Rivers Rally," Dodge said. "Time is running out and we need to work together to protect our waterways, be an information clearinghouse, educate people and promote sound public policy."
A plenary session for a statewide Rivers Alliance, entitled "Where from Here?" is scheduled for Saturday, June 9, 6:30-8:30 p.m. The statewide Indiana Rivers Alliance would collaborate with the more than 70 different river organizations and watershed protection projects in Indiana. (Source: Purdue University)
To register or download a Rivers Rally schedule, visit www.indianariversrally.org.
What Is Your Indiana Rivers IQ?
June is American Rivers Month. So how much do you know about Indiana's waterways?
Take this quick true-false quiz and find out.
You can also celebrate Indiana streams and rivers at the Indiana Rivers Rally, June 7-9 (www.indianariversrally.org). Co-sponsored by the Rivers Institute at Hanover College and Purdue University, it is the first statewide event to encourage awareness and preservation of Indiana's 35,000 miles of rivers and streams.
1. Indiana has more miles of rivers and streams than of roads.
True: The state nicknamed "the Crossroads of America" may surprise you. According to Indiana's Department of Transportation, there are more miles of rivers and streams (35,000 in fact) than miles of state-maintained roads.
2. All Indiana lakes and rivers are safe to swim and play in.
False: Many Indiana lakes and rivers are unsafe to swim in.
3. Most Indiana waterways have fish consumption advisories.
True.
4. Indiana's water table is considered to be at high risk of ground-water contamination.
True. Indiana is considered to be at high risk for contamination and aquifer vulnerability due to high levels of nitrogen. (IDEM) Indiana's water is increasingly compromised with pollution from E.coli, PCBs, mercury, dioxins, herbicides, chemicals and agricultural runoff.
5. No Indiana river ranks among the nation's most biodiverse and free-flowing.
False. The Wabash River is the longest, free-flowing, undammed river east of the Mississippi. (Source: WRHCC) The Tippecanoe River ranks among the nation's top 10 in biodiversity. (Source: TNC)
For Media Information Contact:
Diane Willis, LeeWillis Communications (O) 317-469-4840; (M) 317-557-5589
dianewillis @ leewilliscommunications.com
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