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Office of Conservation Launches New Groundwater Education Effort

Baton Rouge – Louisiana Commissioner of Conservation Jim Welsh announced today plans for a public awareness campaign that will initially focus on educating and informing local residents about the importance of Baton Rouge-area groundwater resources.

“Water-Wise in BR” will target educational outreach about the Southern Hills aquifer, the main source of groundwater in the Capital Region. As the pilot for a statewide campaign, the effort is being developed in fulfillment of Welsh’s May 2012 order (ENV 2012-GW011) mandating a “groundwater conservation and aquifer awareness public education initiative” for the Baton Rouge area.

“We have an opportunity here to test a communication model that we believe could be a blueprint for our groundwater education efforts across the state, creating a program in which corporate citizens and others interested in sustaining our groundwater can pool resources and assist the state in outreach to the wider public,” Welsh said. “I believe it is appropriate to start here in Baton Rouge, where we have recognized growing concern about the sustainability of the local aquifer and actively responded to the Capital Area Groundwater Conservation Commission’s request to intervene more directly in its statutorily designated area of authority.”

The Southern Hills aquifer, actually a series of aquifers located at varying depths, supplies Baton Rouge with its highly-rated drinking water. Historically plentiful, and with a relatively fast recharge rate, the aquifer also serves as a major asset for Baton Rouge’s economy. In response to public concerns about the potential acceleration of saltwater intrusion in the freshwater system, the Office of Conservation’s Groundwater Resources Program has been coordinating with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), local agencies and high-volume users in assessing the current status of the aquifer and laying the groundwork for future action to protect it.

“Our agency works directly with high-volume groundwater consumers to manage their activities, but these users already have an understanding of the workings of the aquifer as part of their businesses,” Welsh said. “It is just as important for families, individuals and small businesses to have this knowledge as well. Many people do not have a full understanding of the aquifer, its uses, or the complexity of its management. Our focus with ‘Water-Wise in BR’ is straightforward – making sure that people know about the resource.”

Key initial features of the awareness campaign include a website, a workshop for science teachers, and a set of traveling exhibits that will be available to public and school libraries on a rotating basis.

The teacher workshop is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at the Capitol Park Museum in downtown Baton Rouge. It is an all-day program that will include topical discussions, facility tours, and curriculum development. Educators who currently teach, or have an interest in teaching, earth and environmental science in the Baton Rouge area are particularly encouraged to attend. The workshop is free of charge, but space is limited. To register for the workshop, or to contribute donations to the “Water-Wise in BR” campaign, contact:

Matthew Reonas, Education and Public Outreach, Office of Conservation at (225) 342-1496.   Email matthew.reonas@la.gov