Swaner Nature Preserve
June 10th Watershed Festival
Watershed Festival Mixes Fun and Education
Successful Event Highlights Water Issues and Natural Histo y of East Canyon Creek Watershed
Whether outside in the sun, under the big tent, or inside the field house browsing the booths and vendors, the hundreds of people participating in the Watershed Festival on June 10 looked engaged. Kids with wide eyes stared up at Hogle Zoo's live kestrel, parents selected native plants f or xericscaping projects, amateur photographers took mental notes at David Whitten's photography workshop, kids painted murals and birdhouses, and locals talked with over 25 or ganizations about environmental issues. The event, which was free and open to the public, had something f or everyone.
The day started early f or the m or e than 30 volunteers who helped make the Watershed Festival possible. By 10 a.m., over 40 or ganizations had moved booths, supplies, plants, and artw or k into Basin Recreation's Field House or the outside tent, and the event was underway. Community members who arrived early enough went home with a free reusable water bottle sporting the East Canyon Creek Watershed logo and website ( www.eastcanyoncreek.org ), as well as a bag of native wildflower seed mix to plant a water-wise garden. Kids leaving the festival toted pictures they had painted with local muralist Paul Jackubowski, and a trove of art treasures created at booths run by local non-profit Arts-Kids or the Utah Botanical Center. Families carried "pioneer style" family photos courtesy of the Summit County Hist or ical Society, and mugs of strawberry plants provided by Summit Land Conservancy seemed to be everywhere.
Adding to the festival atmosphere were several great vend or s toting jewelry, nature cards, native plants, and artw or k. Live bluegrass music was provided by the Puddle Mountain Ramblers, in addition to a perf or mance by students from Another Way Montess or i School. It was a beautiful day: people arrived by bicycle, stroller, on foot, and in cars to enjoy themselves at the festival.
Community members craving information on local environmental issues were not let down. With representatives from dozens of organizations and agencies on hand, the venue was perfect for chatting about a range of topics of interest or concern. Organizations presenting on water issues included: Friends of East Canyon Creek; High Country Fly Fishers; Living Planet Aquarium; USU Extension; the Natural Resources Conservation Service; Snyderville Basin Water Reclamation District; Utah Divisions of Drinking Water, Water Quality, and Water Resources; Utah Rivers Council; and Trout Unlimited. Those focusing on land preservation included: Basin Open Space Committee; Summit Land Conservancy; Utah Open Lands ; and Utah Wilderness Coalition.
Other topics included: habitat rest or ation by the Colby School; rapt or ecology by Hawkwatch International; media and the environment by KPCW; local student projects by Gaylynn Mooney; cottonwood ecology by N or thern Arizona University; Xericscaping by Park City Nursery; hazardous waste and composting by Recycle Utah; West Nile virus and watershed management by Summit County Health Department and Mosquito Abatement; wetland functions and value by the US Army C or ps of Engineers; tree and f or est health by the UT Division of F or estry, Fire, and State Lands; Animal Tracking by the Utah Division of Wildlife resources; natural hist or y by the Utah Museum of Natural Hist or y; light pollution by Utah Skies; watershed education by the Utah Society f or Environmental Education; and weed control by USU Extension. Kids activities were provided by Arts-Kids; Paul Jackubowski; Summit County Hist or ical Society; Tracy Aviary; and the Utah Botanical Center . Participants also enjoyed a tour focused on nature-journaling with Larry Cesspooch, a weed walk with the US F or est Service, and tours on cottonwood ecology, mosquitoes, and wetland soils.
Swaner Nature Preserve thanks everyone who presented, volunteered, and attended! We are looking forward to next year already and invite you to join us f or the sure-to-be-wonderful Watershed Festival 2007!
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