Purdue News

November 20, 1998 Wabash River Water Quality Workshop to be Dec. 9 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Real-life solutions for real-life water quality challenges will be the focus of the Wabash River Water Quality Workshop from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9. The workshop will be held on Purdue University's West Lafayette campus and will feature many Purdue experts. The workshop will feature local examples of strategies and practices that protect and improve water quality in challenges faced by agriculture, industry and local communities. Presentations will emphasize cost sharing and other pollution prevention incentives. "This workshop is designed to bring diverse interest groups together to look at examples of projects and practices that protect our water quality and that are economically profitable as well," said Rae Schnapp, water policy director for the Hoosier Environmental Council. Schnapp also is a Purdue graduate, receiving her doctorate in horticulture. Morning activities will include presentations by Purdue faculty members Darrell Leap and Jane Frankenburger. Leap will discuss the vulnerability of our water supply, while Frankenburger will focus on how land use impacts water quality. Also speaking during the morning session will be Jim Gammon, an ecologist from DePauw University. Following the morning speakers, there will be a panel discussion spotlighting the Wildcat Creek Watershed. Panel members will include Gerald Thomas, Purdue; Linda Eastman, Tippecanoe County Soil and Water Conservation District; John Egalhaaf, Clinton County planner; Chuck Weis, Wildcat Guardians; and guests from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Wildcat Creek was selected by IDEM as a pilot project for addressing water quality because it is a popular recreation area with high levels of E. coli bacteria, mercury and PCBs, as well as prohibitions on fish consumption. The afternoon portion of the workshop will feature breakout groups highlighting local examples for improving water quality in the areas of agriculture, business and communities. John Peverly, an Extension water quality specialist at Purdue, will discuss effective septic systems in the community-oriented breakout group. Joe Yahner, a professor emeritus from Purdue, will discuss alternative on-site waste water treatment. Additional topics focusing on community issues include constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment at Prophetstown State Park, wellhead protection and source water protection, and using Geographic Information Systems for county planning. Agricultural topics will include treating animal waste, precision farming with Geographic Information Systems, cost share opportunities, whole farm planning and diversified farming. Topics on business include services available to small businesses, composting food wastes from restaurants, new water quality standards and pollution prevention opportunities. The preregistration deadline for the workshop is Dec. 4, and the cost of registration is $15, which includes lunch. Citizen scholarships are available, which allows interested citizens with financial need to attend the workshop at no cost. To receive more information on these scholarships, call Schnapp at (317) 685-8800. Schnapp also said that registrants who include their Social Security number with their registration are eligible for a lifetime learning tax credit. For more information on registration, contact Cindy Sargent, conference coordinator at Purdue, at (765) 496-3978. For additional information on the workshop, contact Schnapp at (317) 685-8800; e-mail, s.rae.schnapp@ibm.net. Compiled by Chris Sigurdson, (765) 494-8415; E-mail, sig@ecn.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page