Campbell County CES

Title:

Envrionmental Education Urban Water Quality

MAP:

Environmental Education Urban Water Quality

Agents Involved:

Scully

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Urban Environments (water issues)

Situation:

The population of Kentucky continues to migrate to urban areas thus increasing impervious surface and subsequent runoff and impairments to water quality. EPA has imposed regulations on 104 Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) permitting communities with populations of 10,000 or more to educate and involve the public in their permit plans.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Reduction of lawn, landscape, and garden additives. Reduce level of pollutants in storm water. Improve level of water quality in stream segments within and adjacent to communities.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Participants will: implement best management practices on their property or in their community, make informed decisions on daily activities and actions that affect water quality, make informed decisions on use of lawn, landscape and garden additives. Complete soil tests and apply plant nutrients accordingly, apply lawn, landscape and garden additives as recommended including: handling, application, disposal, and environmental conditions. Dispose pet waste correctly, direct downspouts to pervious surfaces, advocate for education and community actions to improve water quality, conduct a storm water education and training program, and advocate for storm water best management practices with clients and community leaders.

Initial Outcomes:

Participants will: define watershed, define storm water, define/identify impervious surfaces, and describe one or more aspects of pollutant runoff. Recognize the water quality issues/needs on their property, at their school, in the community, observe or participate in best management practices implementation, understand the benefits of native plants and non-aggressive perennials in the landscape, and learn how to take a soil test.

Evaluation:

Long-Term Outcome: Implementation of recommended environmental best management practices and lessons, reduction in the use of lawn, landscape and garden additives. Improvement in water quality in stream segments and reduction of pollutants in storm water.

Indicator: Responses on evaluations and surveys, number of landscape and lawn care professionals, community volunteers, and homeowner’s association members who implement best management practices and lessons, water quality analysis.

Method: Written evaluations and surveys completed by participants after storm water education and training program, personal observations and verbal comments and water quality analysis.

Timeline: Knowledge gained from the training program, activities and publications

Intermediate Outcome: Implementation of recommended environmental best management practices and lessons, informed decision making on daily activities and actions that affect water quality, informed decision making on use of lawn, landscape and garden additives. Testing of soil and application of plant nutrients accordingly. Proper disposal of pet waste. Directing of downspouts to pervious surfaces, and advocating for education and community actions to improve water quality. Completion of a storm water education and training program. Advocating for storm water best management practices with clients and community leaders.

Indicator: : Responses on evaluations and surveys, number of landscape and lawn care professionals, community volunteers, and homeowner’s association members who implement best management practices and lessons, water quality analysis.

Method: Written evaluations and surveys completed by participants, personal observations and verbal comments and water quality analysis.

Timeline: Knowledge gained from the training program, activities and publications

Initial Outcome: Knowledge of recommended environmental best management practices, the ability to define storm water, define and identify impervious surfaces, and describe one or more aspects of pollutant runoff. Recognition of water quality issues/needs on their property and at their school, in the community.

Indicator: Responses on evaluations and surveys, number of landscape and lawn care professionals, community volunteers, and homeowner’s association members who implement best management practices and lessons.

Method: Written evaluations and surveys completed by participants, personal observations and verbal comments.

Timeline: Knowledge gained from activities and publications

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: General public/homeowners

Project or Activity: Water Quality in Urban Environments

Content and Curriculum: Introduction to storm water, soil testing and urban nutrient management, growing green through the seasons, reduced input to lawns, backyard streams, rain barrels, rain gardens/bioswales, and waste management: composting, recycling.

Inputs: paid staff, volunteers, Community MS4 permit coordinators, Kentucky Division of Water, UK Extension publications, PowerPoint presentations, and printed resources

Date: Throughout the year

Audience: Community volunteers (e.g. Master Gardeners, Homemakers Association)
 Project or Activity: Water Quality in Master Gardener Curriculum
 Content or Curriculum: Soils and fertility, water quality and turf grass education.
 Inputs paid staff, volunteers, Community MS4 permit coordinators, Kentucky Division of Water, UK Extension publications, PowerPoint presentations, and printed resources Date: Throughout the year

Audience: General Public & Youth
 Project or Activity: Water Quality in Urban Environments
 Content or Curriculum: Field trips, construction and evaluation of best management practices 

Inputs: paid staff, volunteers, Community MS4 permit coordinators, Kentucky Division of Water, UK Extension publications, PowerPoint presentations, and printed resources

Date: Throughout the year

 Audience: Landscape and lawn care professionals
 Project or Activity: Training of professionals
 Content or Curriculum: Training of professionals in the areas of landscaping/lawn care and excavation contractors

Inputs: paid staff, volunteers, Community MS4 permit coordinators, Kentucky Division of Water, UK Extension publications, PowerPoint presentations, and printed resources

Date: throughout the year

 Audience: Youth
 Project or Activity: 4-H Environmental Camps, clubs and after school programs
 Content or Curriculum: Coordinate Water Quality education activities and programs with PS4 permit coordinator

Inputs: paid staff, volunteers, Community MS4 permit coordinators, Kentucky Division of Water, UK Extension publications, PowerPoint presentations, and printed resources.

 Date: throughout the year

Success Stories