Conservation on the Ground –
Lee County Hosts its First Water Festival
by Anne Miller, District Administrative Coordinator, Lee County Field Office
"Every Drop Counts" was the theme
of the Lee County Water Festival 2004. The
event took place May 13-14, 2004, at the
Haley Center on the Auburn University
campus, Auburn, Alabama. There were
1,563 fourth-grade students and teachers
participating.
In preparation for the event, teacher
packets with conservation education
materials were delivered to each
participating teacher prior to the festival.
While this information was beneficial in
helping prepare students for the 2004
experience, the information can be used by
the teachers in future years.
The Lee County Soil and Water
Conservation District (SWCD) considers the Water Festival 2004 to be a big success. With direction
from the local SWCD and Natural Resource Conservation Service Opelika Field Office, other partners
stepped forward and helped plan and implement the event. Lee County officials, utilities, private
companies, and the general public all participated to make the event a success. Delivery of the
program required assistance from 97 volunteers on the first day and 89 volunteers the second day.
Lee County fourth-graders participated in the Water
Festival 2004, which was held at Haley Center on
Auburn University campus.
The Lee County community is already talking about and planning for the Lee County Water
Festival 2005. Because the first Water Festival was so successful, the Lee County SWCD anticipates
continued support from local businesses for future Water Festivals. A PowerPoint presentation will be
shown at the first teachers’ meetings in the fall to generate interest in the Water Festival 2005.
The goal of conservation education
is to raise the awareness of the need for
water conservation and to provide
information about the subject. The first
Water Festival accomplished both those
objectives. The educational materials have
been used and the informat