Cleaning the Rivers Program
Wednesday, 8 June 2005
Marcel Susko
- Address: Zahradna 70/7, 07661, Vuabiv, Slovakia Tel: +421-904-994159
Email: cleanwater@pobox.sk
Summary
Catchment area in the Muranka River catchment near the Muranka Plains National Park where 70 years of agricultural policy have attempted to move water out of the landscape quickly as possible through altering and concreting streams. Now environment is hot and dry.
Aim: To get rivers clean in 10 years max.
Looked at successful models from America.
Identified three areas to address, beginning work with the first and easiest of the three:
- Nutrients
- Rubbish
- Revitalise natural stream beds.
Began but people putting rubbish in upstream, got discouraged, so stopped and observed. Decided to begin again and work with all communities in the catchment including 18 villages and 2 towns. Council got involved and helped with finance and publicity.
Successful project that people are now proud of the change.
Further Links: John Todds http://www.oceanarks.org/ project European Programs like "Life" where funding will be available to revitalise whole river systems.
[Scribe: Simon Thomson]