Regular testing can help keep rivers and beaches clean and safe

January 7th at 7PM
Room 027 in the Kramer Science Center
Dowling College, Rudolph Campus
Idle Hour Blvd., Oakdale, NY 11769

The Forge River used to conjure up sunny childhood memories- instead this impaired river and its dead zones are a sign of the poor health of Long Island waterways. For those looking for a way to make Long Island waters clean again, an event on January 7th at Dowling College might be just what the doctor ordered.  The Sierra Club is testing the south shore bays and their tributaries to gather data on an ongoing and consistent basis, and will be offering the opportunity to adopt a waterway.

Speaker Lou Siegel is Science Coordinator for the South Shore Estuary Reserve Office, Estuary Learning Facilitator for the New York State Marine Education Association and a lecturer at Dowling College. Lou has created the sSELF Program which enlists the help of students, classrooms, and community groups to monitor various physical and chemical parameters in the waters of the South Shore Estuary Reserve. Lou Siegel will describe the program and demonstrate the equipment used by each group.

Long Island waters are polluted, and scientists need baseline data to detect and remedy problems. By adopting a test kit and waterway individuals will be able to track their waterway and their data and help identify changes as they occur.

Free water badges made by students will be given out at the door and there will be plenty of time to adopt a waterway. The Sierra Club will be offering raffles to raise money for the school water testing kits. Items include: Two LI wine baskets with five bottles of wine each with glasses and coffee mugs with teas, a 50/50 raffle, and three T shirts and badges of kid art signed by supporter Christopher Meloni of Law and Order. Winners will be picked from people present that night.

Directions are available at http://www.dowling.edu/about/directions1.shtm