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Ground Water Awareness Week, March 11-17, 2012
Need for Ground Water Education and Protection Stressed
Ground Water Awareness Week is March 11- 17th this year as proclaimed by Gov. Bobby Jindal. Each year, ground water awareness week is celebrated nationally and sponsored by the National Ground Water Association.
In Louisiana, the main agencies charged with managing the state’s ground water resources are the Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Conservation and the Ground Water Resources Commission. DNR Secretary Scott Angelle said that in promoting awareness, “we must involve all our citizens and encourage them to use water wisely – it is a precious natural resource.”
According to the national organization, the week is a reminder of the importance of yearly water testing and water well maintenance. Angelle, who was appointed by Gov. Jindal to head the La. Ground Water Resources Commission, has been promoting classroom instruction on water education and conservation for a number of years. A great deal of emphasis is placed on the department’s website as an excellent source of educational materials, videos and information for students, teachers and adults. He said that each and every person should take responsibility for “conserving” water - it has universal significance now more than ever before.
DNR staff have scheduled a teaching tour during the week, have produced and distributed a PSA, and have updated the “Teacher’s Portal to Ground Water Lesson Plans” which can be found here.
Several other agencies encourage water awareness including the Sparta Ground Water Commission, LSU Ag Center, La. Farm Bureau, U. S. Geological Survey, and the departments of Environmental Quality and Health and Hospitals.
The people of Louisiana use over 1.6 billion gallons of ground water every day and protecting this resource is critical and important for future generations. Angelle also said that the commission and the department’s environmental division have been compiling and working on a statewide aquifer and water findings report and plan to provide it this week to the Legislature in concurrence with HCR 1 of the 2010 Regular Legislative Session.
View the Governor's 2012 Proclamation
View the PSA
See DNR's Teacher's Portal to Ground Water Lesson Plans
View the National Ground Water Fact Sheets
Best YOUTUBE Video on the Conservation Classroom by the Vermilion Soil and Water Conservation District and LSU AgCenter
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