Participating in Creek Cleanups Can Help Protect Water Quality (2:47 minutes)
Audio/Video Script:
John Pennington, County Extension Agent – Agriculture
[Music - U of A Division of Agriculture Research and Extension, University of Arkansas System]
[John Pennington, Washington County Extension Agent for Water Quality] ALERT! ALERT! ALERT! Please be on the lookout for litter bugs in the state of Arkansas.
Unfortunately, there are quite a few litterbugs either living in or passing through the state of Arkansas. As a result of this poor trash management behavior by the litterbugs the trash that they leave behind or throw out the window or down on the land, parking lots, or streets all gets washed into streams rivers and lakes of our natural state. [Pictures showing various places with litter on the ground and in waterways.]
If this trash is not cleaned from the land’s surface, streams, or other waterways it can degrade water quality, scenic beauty, recreation potential, and even harm wildlife. [Pictures of a clean stream, people kayaking, and a blue heron.]
Luckily enough though, we do have quite a few care takers of our waterways that do way more than their share to help protect water quality of our rivers streams and lakes of Arkansas to keep them in good shape for use and enjoyment by all. [Pictures showing people working together to clean up litter and garbage at various locations. Pictures of trailers and pickups full of litter.]
If you have never participated in or organized a community litter pick up or creek cleanup you should and here’s a few reasons why: Participating in litter and creek cleanups is very fun, very rewarding, and can help protect our natural resources wildlife and drinking water. Sometimes the best reason of all to participate in or conduct a litter cleanup is because it means you are taking care of place that means a lot to you, your family, or community. [Pictures showing people working together to clean up litter and garbage at various locations. Group picture showing a Brownie Girl Scout troop helping to cleanup litter.]
Not only can your efforts make a difference four our waterways and their inhabitants but your efforts can help set an example for other to follow especially with folks out there that have still not learned to properly dispose of trash. Remember it’s everyone’s responsibility to help protect water quality so be sure to do your part by participating in or organizing a local Stream or community cleanup! [Pictures showing people cleaning up litter, a clean running stream, and people using canoes and kayaks to clean a waterway.]
[Announcer] For more information protecting water quality contact your local county Extension office or watershed partnership. This podcast was funded by the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission and Environmental Protection Agency. [Proud to Support Kings River Partnership. Logos of the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission, United States Environmental Protection Agency]
