By GRETCHEN WILSO
Utah residents have a new option available when considering adoption that still requires attention, care and cleaning up messes -- adopting a water body.
The Adopt-a-Water-Body program began in 1992 after a pollution prevention grant was written and accepted by the Environmental Protection Agency. The program is funded through money from the federal government.
Leehann Lamb, of the Office of Planning and Public Affairs at the Department of Environmental Quality, said the program is similar to the Adopt-a-Highway program.
'This is an education initiative that helps people get involved. We feel strongly that the government can't do it all. This way, we promote citizen involvement and get people committed to the resource,' Lamb said.
Surface run-off causes the majority of water pollution. Particles from cities, streets and grazing animals flow into water and cause pollution. Lamb said individuals that adopt water bodies are changing that.
'We don't regulate the groups, but we are looking for a cumulative effect in decreasing run-off,' she said.
The Department of Environmental Quality doesn't help with the actual cleaning or rehabilitating the water bodies, they simply administer information and give suggestions to groups.
The program has attracted school groups, naturalists and fishing groups to help keep Utah's water bodies clean and pollution free. Citizen groups are required to adopt a segment of a water body for two years.
Lamb said Salt Lake City has been successful in its annual clean up of the Jordan River.
'Mobilizing community groups and involving citizens helps bring back urban riverways that are frequently dumped on,' she said. 'Mayor (Dee Dee) Corradini has made a strong initiative to keep the water clean.'
Michael Sawyer, Environmental Fair Coordinator for Weber County, said the Adopt-a-Water-Body program in Weber County has seen great success.
Weber County has 80-90 miles of water from the Weber and Ogden Rivers, and about 15 miles of that has been adopted. Volunteer groups are assigned segments three-quarters of a mile in length.
Sawyer said the key to success is partnership. Weber County hired a part-time river keeper who works with the 13 active volunteer groups.
'Our river keeper gives hands-on help to the groups. He gives technical assistance and support,' he said. 'The groups really feel that support and are motivated to help.'
Groups are asked to clean their segment of water twice a year. Sawyer said some groups do litter clean-ups and others restore habitat in the area. The groups receive some assistance from the county and state.
'The county supplies equipment and a crew to the groups and the state has some money to access,' he said. 'Some groups come up with money themselves.'
Sawyer said the county would like to see every segment of water adopted and see the rivers become environmentally diverse. Sawyer has been pleased with awareness for the Adopt-a-Water-Body program.
'We have more volunteer groups than any other county in the state,' Sawyer said.
'We've been really happy with awareness levels. We have a Chevy Blazer with our logo painted on it,' he said. 'Whenever we ride around in it, people honk and wave.'