Education is key for Pequabuckto stay cleanSchools a no-show at river workshop

By JACKIE MAJERUS

The Bristol Press

BRISTOL -- Itching to show off a nifty classroom prop that illustrates how rivers become polluted, local advocates for the Pequabuck River invited schools from three towns to a workshop at Memorial Boulevard School Tuesday.

But no Bristol, Plymouth or Plainville teacher or administrator showed up.

Carl Swanson, president of the Pequabuck River Watershed Association, said he was disappointed at the turnout.

Organizer Ken Shooshan-Stoller, a regional planner with the Central Connecticut Regional Planning Agency, said he sent invitations to every school in the three towns.

"I faxed reminders last week to about a dozen schools," Shooshan-Stoller said.

The workshop, put on by the umbrella group, the Pequabuck River Organization, was part of a series that aims to tap into the economic, educational and recreational potential of the local waterway.

Tuesday's gathering was supposed to discuss how schools could use the river to teach ecology, science and other topics while stressing the importance of protecting it.

Dave Parsons, who works with the state Department of Environmental Protection's educational outreach program, Water Education for Teachers, brought an enviroscape to demonstrate how chemical and dirt runoff turns into pollution.

The molded plastic device shows a miniature watershed, complete with roads, a sewage-treatment plant, construction site, logging operation, farm and yard. There are hills and storm drains.

Using cocoa for dirt, chocolate syrup for oil and powdered drink mixes for herbicides and fertilizers, Parsons sprinkled a tiny yard, farm field, logging site and construction operation. He then sprayed water on the enviroscape to simulate rain.

The powders dissolved into the water and washed into the storm drain or right into the river, turning it brown.

"That's what the Pequabuck looks like after a good rainstorm," said Bob Rostkowski, who works in the city's water pollution control department.

Parsons said he takes the enviroscape with him when he speaks to classes. It's helpful for all ages, he said. "It's been very effective," Parsons said, adding,"I'd love to do a workshop here."

Swanson said his group wants to buy an enviroscape. He said he wants to reach out to kids because they'll pay attention and bug their parents to do things right.

"Our kids are the future," said Swanson. "A lot of adults are not gonna listen to you."

If his group is able to buy an enviroscape -- they're not cheap -- Swanson said they'll loan it to teachers for classroom use and also set up booths at festivals or shows to reach out to the public.

Once they get one or two teachers interested, Swanson said, others are sure to follow.

Rostkowski -- who said local teachers sometimes have students take water samples from the Pequabuck to measure pollution levels -- said it might be a good idea to provide a prepared curriculum.

Most people, if they understand what's going on, said Parsons, will choose not to pollute.

Parsons said he teaches students what a watershed is and the different kinds of pollution. One of the biggest problems now, he said, is pollution that can't easily be traced, like runoff.

Lawn fertilizers and weed killers are a problem, Parsons said.

"Frequently homeowners misapply," said Parsons, because they think if a little bit is good for the yard, a lot will be great. "They'll lather it on there."

But much of it ends up in the river, he said, because the excess runs off into the storm drain.

Safer alternatives, Parsons said, would be to use a natural fertilizer or weed killer, use a mulching mower, stop using chemicals all together or simply follow the directions on the package. Chemicals also shouldn't be applied before a rain, he said, so it's best to watch the weather.

Storm drains "just empty directly into a nearby stream or river," said Parsons. "That stuff is carried all the way to the ocean."

Fertilizers that find their way to the ocean can spur algae growth and upset the balance in places like Long Island Sound, Parsons said.

Runoff from hot parking lots or dirt in the river raises the water temperature and can create havoc in the stream, according to Parsons.

"If it gets bad enough, the fish can potentially die," said Parsons.

In the Pequabuck, the sand fills up tiny cracks that baby salmon need for hiding, Swanson said.

Parsons said car owners should make sure their cars are serviced properly and not leaking oil. He said anyone who changes their own oil must dispose of it properly -- not dump it in the storm drain.

Washing a car in the driveway isn't a good idea, either, Parsons said, because of the harmful runoff. He said it is much better to take the vehicle to a car wash where there are traps to filter the water.

The workshops continue Thursday at 4 p.m. at the Bristol Boys and Girls Club. The last one is March 18 at 4 p.m. at Manross Library. They are open to the public.

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