A PUBLIC EDUCATION PROJECT: CONVERTING A STORMWATER DETENTION BASIN INTO AN OUTDOOR LEARNING CENTER

Sanitation District No. 1 has been charged by the state of Kentucky to create and manage a stormwater utility for its three-county service. The District's management team determined that a strong public education campaign would help residents understand the relationship between stormwater and water quality. This paper describes and explains one of the stormwater education projects.Sanitation District No. 1 worked with a local elementary school to convert a badly eroding stormwater detention basin into an outdoor learning center for the school. The project also served as an object lesson to educate the community about the impact of stormwater on the quality of its waterways. A publicity plan kept students, teachers, parents, and the media informed during each phase of the project.Funding for the project came from grants, community donations, PTA fundraisers, and volunteer labor. The project was a cooperative effort from start to finish that offered positive results for everyone involved. The sewer district gained a corrected detention basin. The public gained an education in stormwater management, which laid the groundwork for a pending stormwater utility. The students learned about water pollution and the school gained an educational resource in the Outdoor Learning Center.