DATE: June 17, 2009

CONTACT: David Joyner, 843-722-5940, ext. 125
djoyner@clemson.edu

WRITER: Peter Hull, 843-554-7226, ext. 118
phull@clemson.edu

Learn about stormwater pollution at the 2009 Harbor Fest Education Village

CHARLESTON — Do you know what happens to local rivers and streams if you over-fertilize your lawn or wash old motor oil down a storm drain?

Visit the Education Village, located adjacent to the Charleston Maritime Center, during the 2009 Harbor Fest to learn why it is everyone’s responsibility to keep surface waters free of pollution. Harbor Fest runs June 26-29.

As part of the village, the Ashley Cooper Stormwater Education Consortium, Carolina Clear’s stormwater pollution education and awareness initiative in the Lowcountry, is sponsoring Water Walk.

Visitors can learn how they affect the region’s water quality, the importance of water conservation and actions they can take to reduce their pollution “footprint,” starting in their own backyards.

David Joyner, Clemson Extension natural resources agent and coordinator of the Ashley Cooper consortium, said there are steps everyone can take — such as picking up after dogs — to help improve water quality and ultimately the quality of life.

“These actions may seem trivial, but they add up,” Joyner said. “A central theme of the exhibit is that we each have a role in maintaining healthy watersheds.”

Other attractions in the village include how to make a fish print, fly an underwater vehicle, exploring a salt marsh, knot tying and much more.

On the Web
For more information on Harbor Fest 2009 and the Education Village visit: http://charlestonharborfest.org.

Carolina Clear
Carolina Clear is a stormwater education and awareness program of the Clemson University Restoration Institute and the Center for Watershed Excellence. The program’s goal is to minimize polluted stormwater runoff by educating the general public, youth, builders, developers, homeowners and government officials about how they can keep water in the state’s streams, rivers and basins as clean as possible. Its Web site is www.clemson.edu/carolinaclear.

The Clemson University Restoration Institute
The mission of the Clemson University Restoration Institute is to advance knowledge in integrative approaches to the restoration and sustainability of historic, ecological and urban infrastructure resources, and drive economic growth. The institute’s vision is to build a sustainable future through education, collaborative restoration research and strategic partnerships. Its Web site is www.clemson.edu/restoration/.