Illinois River Watershed Appreciation Day June 6, 2009

Bald Eagle on the Illinois River
Originally uploaded by FreeWine

The Illinois River Watershed Partnership will hold Illinois River Watershed Appreciation Day from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 6, 2009 at Lake Fayetteville.

The day's itinerary includes children's games in the pavilion from 2 to 4:30 p.m., a geocaching treasure hunt, Stream Team watermonitoring demonstrations, canoe racing, fishing and volleyball contests, barbecue and a concert. Everything's free and open to all.

The Illinois River originates near Hogeye, southwest of Fayetteville, and flows west, crossing the Ozarks into Oklahoma five miles south of Siloam Springs. Eventually it flows into the Arkansas River near Gore, Okla. More information is at http://www.irwp.org/ or 479-238-4671.

How Clean Are Oklahoma's Lakes and Rivers?

According to a draft report released last week by state environmental officials, the vast majority of lakes, streams and rivers in Oklahoma do not meet federal water quality standards for pollution. (Source: The News on Six)

94% of Oklahoma's lake acres do not meet water quality standards and this represents an improvement from previous years!

I think that this is a great reason to get our young folks out on the water paddling. In order for people to truly value our outdoor resources, they have to be present and aware of the delicate and beautiful ecosystems that surround them.


An Environmental History of the Illinois River: Agriculture, Urban Development, and Recreation in Northwest Arkansas and Northeastern Oklahoma, 1818-2005