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Water Quality News

Best Water and Wastewater Systems for 2008 Receive Awards

Two drinking water systems and one wastewater system were awarded honors March 4, 2009, during the Missouri Rural Water Association’s 43rd annual Technical Conference and Trade Show in Columbia.

Receiving awards for outstanding achievement during 2008 were McDonald County Public Water Supply District #2, awarded Drinking Water System of the Year; the City of Seligman in Barry County, named Wastewater System of the Year; and Platte County Public Water Supply District #4, honored as Source Water System of the Year. More>

Fall soil test campaign a success

Over 800 free soil test kits were mailed out in September to residents who completed a short online survey.

Water Quality Program gets a new look

MARC staff worked with Trozollo Communications to develop a new tagline and logo based on committee suggestions.

The new logo and tagline are "Clean Water. Healthy Life."

Soil Testing Campaign

1. Regional Committee Actions
   • Outreach Material: The soil testing brochure has been completed and distributed to participating members.
   • Media Outreach: Radio spots have been produced and are airing on commercial and public radio stations throughout the region.
   • Reprints: The Know Your Roots and Redirect Your Downspouts brochures were reprinted in May and are available for distribution.
   • Translations: The first 12 water quality brochures have been translated into Spanish and MARC staff is busy reformatting the publications for reprinting.
   • Additional work: MARC is currently working with regional extension centers to purchase a limited number of soil tests for the public. A future
     e-mail will provide more information once agreements have been completed.
     
     
2. Local Government Action Suggestions
   • Educate maintenance crews about stream protection and maintenance BMPs such as soil testing, converting turf grass into native grass, and installing signage about buffer zones, picking up pet waste, and other NPS messages.
   • Determine if your city or county’s current fertilizer regimen is appropriate or if it is unnecessarily contributing to NPS pollution.
   • Promote local businesses that carry organic or phosphorus-free fertilizers.
   • Include soil campaign information in a municipal newsletter or pitch stories to a local newspaper.

Native Plant Theme

1. Regional Committee Actions
   
   Outreach Material: A native plant poster titled, 10 Natives for Kansas City was distributed at the Earth Day celebration, Party for the Planet. A limited number of posters were printed for that event, and MARC staff is currently working to improve the poster for regional distribution.
   
   Workshops: In April MARC sponsored a Rain Garden "Train-the-Trainer" workshop presented by David Dods and Rusty Schmidt of URS Corporation. Over 60 people attended the workshop focused on implementation of large-scale Rain Garden initiatives. Over 30 regional landscape professionals and master gardeners attended a second workshop the same day, which covered basic rain garden design, public education methods, and installation.
   
   
2. Local Government Action Suggestions
   • Sponsor school rain garden projects.
   • Distribute rain garden kits or coupons for rain garden plants from local nurseries.
   • Promote local businesses that sell native plants.
   • Train public works or appropriate city departments about the benefits of using native plants in parks and on city grounds.
   • Plant natives along walkways at municipal buildings and include clear signage indicating common and scientific plant names.

Grant Program

Earlier in the quarter a water quality public education subcommittee reviewed seven grant proposals ranging from rain garden installations to watershed festivals. Four projects were awarded funding.

Local Government News and Accomplishments

City of Liberty: Parks and Recreation Department is constructing a 10’ x 60’ rain garden at the Second Baptist Church of Liberty.

City of Lenexa: City staff participated in three rain garden trainings at the Prairie and Wetland Center in conjunction with Kansas City, Mo. and Jackson County.

Jackson County: Co-sponsored multiple rain garden trainings at the Prairie and Wetland Center

Kansas City, Mo: Co-sponsored multiple rain garden trainings at the Prairie and Wetland Center.