CITIZEN POWER ALLIANCE

Finger Lakes Water Day
Planning Committee
PO Box 363
Hammondsport, NY 14840
Flwaterday@ecobooks.com

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release: May 24, 2008

For more information Contact: Jim Trondsen, 607-937-2624 days, 607-962-5157 evenings or email at janetrondsen@juno.com.

Finger Lakes Water Day Festival

[Hammondsport, NY] The Environmental Management Councils of Steuben and Schuyler Counties, Steuben League of Women Voters and Finger Lakes Group of Sierra Club are sponsoring the Finger Lakes Water Day Festival. This event will take place on Sunday, June 1 from 12 to 4 p.m. at Champlin Beach on the south end of Keuka Lake near Hammondsport. It will be an opportunity for fun and learning about a variety of water topics: the water cycle, stream processes, stormwater management, the importance of water to health, pollution, sewage treatment, flooding, recreation, fishing, water safety, and lake history.

There will be hands-on activities for all ages. Local science teachers will provide instruction in basic water testing and identification of the plants and animals in Keuka Lake. Rich Hurley, an award winning science teacher from Bradford Central School, will be the lead teacher for these activities. Science teachers are invited to participate and to give their students credit for water labs conducted at the Finger Lakes Water Day.

There will be many exhibitors, including the Bath Fish Hatchery, Steuben County Soil and Water Conservation District, Steuben County Sheriff’s water safety unit, Keuka Lake Association, Trout Unlimited, Chemung Basin River Trail Partnership, Curtis Museum, Upper Susquehanna Coalition, Isaac Walton League, Steuben Department of Public Works, Foothills Publishing, Southern Tier Central Regional Planning and Development Board, Bath NY Aquifer Group, Steuben League of Women Voters, Environmental Management Councils of Schuyler and Steuben Counties, and Sierra Club. Local author Prof. Mary Hood will present her new book “River Time: Ecotravel on the World’s Rivers”.

The Princeton Pickers featuring Mary Lu Walker will provide music. Endless Mountain Outfitters will have kayaks for demonstration. Food will be available for purchase. This event will offer a “Zero Waste” experience, where purchased food containers and utensils are suitable for composting and will be collected for recycling.

There is no charge to attend this event. For additional information, please contact the Planning Committee at flwaterday@ecobooks or (607) 937-2624.

The Steuben County Environmental Management Council and the Schuyler County Environmental Management Council are volunteer advisory groups that inform the Steuben and Schuyler County governments on environmental matters.

The Steuben League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government, works to increase understanding of major public policy issues, and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The Finger Lakes Group of Sierra Club is part of a national environmental organization advocating protection of our nation’s wild heritage, safe and healthy communities, and smart energy solutions.