New Teacher Tab

Thank you for visiting our blog where we share news, events, information and more about stormwater and how we can prevent stormwater pollution.  We love to go out and visit classrooms, the senior center, organizations, and work with Lake Superior NERR.  We also know teachers are key people for encouraging education and understanding of water and water topics.

There is a new TAB on this blog - FOR TEACHERS.  It has some maps and exercises for students to learn more about local impervious areas, such as their school.  It also has an exercise to calculate (using a USGS website) how much water falls during a given rainfall.  All the water has to go somewhere. 

I hope these pictures and the activity on the new page will be a good resource for engaging students and local learning and helping keep our local waters clean.  We all make a difference.

Go to the NEW  FOR TEACHERS tab

 

Food Recovery Week November 17-21

A message from the EPA

 

Most people don't realize how much food they throw away every day from uneaten leftovers to spoiled produce. More than 96 percent of the food we throw away ends up in landfills. In 2011, we landfilled more than 36 million tons of food waste. Once in landfills, food breaks down to produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas which contributes to climate change.

There are many ways you can reduce food waste, for example:

• Shop your refrigerator first! Cook or eat what you already have at home before buying more.
• Plan your menu before you go shopping and buy only those things on your menu.
• Buy only what you realistically need and will use. Buying in bulk only saves money if you are able to use the food before it spoils.
• Compost food scraps rather than throwing them away.
• ...and more!

November 17 - 21 is Food Recovery Week. More information and tips about reducing food waste:

http://www2.epa.gov/recycle/reducing-wasted-food-basics

Let's Talk Recycling II - Nov 17

Mark your calendar to attend:
Let's Talk Recycling II
Nov 17 starting at 6 p.m. at the Superior Public Library.

Local recycling of electronic waste and vehicle waste.  We use electronics and a car/bus/vehicle almost everyday of our lives.  What about the lives of these items?  Where will they go when we no longer want them or they no longer function?  Learn from local businesses involved in recycling cars and e-waste and oil.  

Bring your questions. 

Seniors Play Lake Superior Jeopardy

Seniors at the Senior Center on Tower played a round of Lake Superior Jeopardy.  The team members had a choice between 5 categories:  Water Use, Lake Superior, Local Waters, Prevent Pollution, What's the Difference. 
Everyone learned more about the local streams and watershed and ways to prevent pollution in our local waters and ultimately Lake Superior.

Here's a photo of a map highlighting our local streams:

Thanks to the local Burger King and McDonalds restaurants for donating food coupon passes.  Environmental Services also brought in prizes ranging from Swedish Fish to fish toys and magnets.


There are many mouths in Superior Bay-  river mouths that is.   Do you know all the local streams?  Storm Drains drain out to local streams which head out to Lake Superior.