Oil Spill in Kalamazoo River Threatens Lake Michigan posted by: Alex
07.29.10
Watershed Partners,
Oil has been released into the Kalamazoo River via a tributary near Marshall, Michigan. Oil is moving downstream and cleanup crews are on the river. We are seeking a primary online information source/hub to link to. We understand that the state has requested that the USEPA take over cleanup oversight. For now, we recommend you follow news in your region and follow the guidelines issued by emergency management officials.
As of Wednesday morning, the 28th of July, we see extensive coverage on:
Generally, emergency officials are saying stay off the river, away from the oil, and refrain from handling impacted wildlife.
We urge you to seek out information from local, state, and federal emergency management officials to determine what you should or should not do. The Watershed Council will update our homepage as frequently as possible, but we urge you to seek official information. You can help us by recommending primary, online resources to link to. Send recommendations to krwc@kalamazooriver.org.
We will follow developments and update Council and Partner related projects like Kanoe the Kazoo and the Aug. 14 Kalamazoo Water Festival.
Best Regards,
Jeff Spoelstra
Coordinator - Kalamazoo River Watershed Council
Kalamazoo Water Festival August 14th posted by: Alex
07.26.10
Announcing the August 14th, 2010 Kalamazoo Water Festival in Downtown Kalamazoo!
A celebratory call to action for citizens concerned about clean water, a healthy Kalamazoo River and Watershed, and sustainable Great Lakes.
Celebrate your water at the first annual Kalamazoo Water Festival! Bring your family and friends and enjoy activities, great bands, and poetry. Interact with passionate advocates, organizations, and businesses to explore ways to ensure clean, plentiful,sustainable water for future generations.
*Arcadia Creek Festival Place portion of Festival opens at Noon*
9:30-11:30 The Starlight Six (Seth Bernard, May Erlewine, Josh Davis,
Rachael Davis, Dominic John and Mike Shimmin)
Water Festival organizers, sponsors, participants, and artists are committed to cleaning up old pollution and preventing new pollution. Like you, we know that water is the beating heart of the Great Lakes state, and that an active, connected citizenry can protect its water. Proceeds from the Water Festival will be set aside for the next festival and Kalamazoo River Watershed Council programs.
Jeff Spoelstra, Kalamazoo River Watershed Council coordinator says: “The Council sees connections everywhere we look in the Kalamazoo River Watershed between sustainable agricultural, healthy local food programs, protected wild places, sustainable cities, contamination cleanup, connected land and water trails, and critically important groundwater (it's what you drink, and it’s under your feet)”.
Join us as we celebrate water connections up and downstream of where you live, work, and play!
For more details or to volunteer to help make the Festival great see:
When you're done with that and you have a few minutes to spare, spend it with this song that Chris Dorman recorded.
Brandon and Bethany Foote Launch Gifts or Creatures! posted by: Alex
06.30.10
ALL THE WAY TO THE MOON!
As many of you know, Brandon and Bethany were married last August on a magically dewey summer day, as only a Michigan summer could provide. Together they've created this amazing new project, Gifts or Creatures, which combines their love of music and story telling.
They've just finished a residency with ISLAND (remember... I told you about that last month), and they're working on the last few steps of an incredible new album. They are hoping to be able to release the album in time for Harvest Gathering, but they need your help!
Please visit their Kickstarter Webpage to learn more about the project and how you can help. You'll even get to check out a nifty new music video! Don't forget to take a peak at their new fangled page on the Earthwork site too! Hotchacha!
As Brandon would say, "JOHNNY FIVE!" and it's time for me to go make a large pot of popcorn!