Watauga Agent Wins Regional Award

Wendy Patoprsty, Watauga's NCA&T Natural Resource Agent, was recently awarded the Outstanding County Extension Program Award at the Southern Region Water Conference in Athens, Georgia for her overall county programming efforts. This is a USDA-NIFA award to recognize an outstanding Extension program in water resources over a 13 state region. Congratulations, Wendy!!

Environmental Field Days

Each year, the Watauga Cooperative Extension assists the county's Soil and Water department with Environmental Field Days. Over 300 of the county's 5th graders from most of the county schools come out each year to the Valle Crucis Community Park to learn about the environment, rotating through different stations. This year, Meghan Baker introduced the kids to the basic principles of Integrated Pest Management while Karee Mackey taught kids the finer points of cultivating earthworms and their benefits to soil through vermicomposting.

Fall 2011 Operation Medicine Cabinet

 SAVING OUR KIDS AND RIVERS FROM DRUGS: OPERATION MEDICINE CABINET HOPES TO BUILD ON PREVIOUS SUCCESS IN THE HIGH COUNTRY, October 7th and 8^th, 2011.

Watauga County, NC - Do you have outdated or unused prescription drugs, over the counter medications, syringes or other medical supplies? Drop them off at the sponsored take-back centers this October. Any prescription or over the counter drugs will be accepted, no questions asked.

Across Watauga County drugs will be collected on Saturday October 8^th, from 10:00am to 2:00pm, in conjunction with Hazardous Household Waste Collection Day. Two new take-back locations have been added in Beaverdam and Beech Mountain, bringing the total number of locations in Watauga County to seven. Take-back locations will be available at the Beaverdam Volunteer Fire Department on Bethel Road, Beech Mountain Town hall, Foscoe Fire Department, and the three Food Lion stores in Watauga County: the Highway 321 store in Boone, the Highway 421 Deep Gap store, and the Blowing Rock store.

ASU will hold its take-back on October 7^th, from 11:00am to 2:00pm in the Plemmons Student Union building.

On Oct. 3, 2009, a broad coalition of community partners came together to create the first ever prescription drug take-back day in the High Country. The event was a huge success, and collections have been held twice per year since then, once in the fall and once in the spring. In total the past four collections have safely disposed of over half a million pills and 60 gallons of liquid medication, making this one of the most successful drug take back programs in the state. Organizers hope to continue this success and collect even more drugs this fall.

The disposal of prescription drugs has long been a dilemma, and many medicine cabinets contain unused or outdated medications. Among teenagers, the fastest growing illegal drug use is the abuse of prescription drugs. The most common method of obtaining prescription drugs is by raiding the medicine cabinet of a friend or family, then consuming the pills or selling them.

“From a law enforcement perspective, one of our most important jobs is to work diligently and proactively to prevent drug abuse,” said Watauga County Sherriff Len D. Hagaman. “By hosting an amnesty day that allows the public to turn in any kind of unused or unwanted medications, hopefully, we will keep those drugs off the street and out of the hands of children.”

Another problem with outdated or unused prescription drugs is that people dispose of them improperly by flushing them down the toilet. If their home is connected to a local wastewater treatment facility, then the drugs wind up in either the Watauga River or New River. 

“A recent investigation by the Associated Press found a whole host of pharmaceuticals-including antibiotics, pain medication, anti-depressants, sex hormones, heart and blood pressure medicine-in the drinking water supplies of more than 40 million Americans,”[1] said Donna Lisenby, Watauga Riverkeeper.

ASU biology and chemistry students and faculty have conducted environmental tests to determine the effects of estrogenic compounds (including estrogen pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, and many alkylphenol surfactants used in detergents, cleaners, and emulsifiers) on male fish populations in the South Fork of the New River.

The results indicated that 60 to 66 percent of two species of male fish below the WWTP effluent are being feminized; tests with rainbow trout have yet to be conducted.

“Although preliminary tests have shown that pharmaceutical estrogens in the river just below the WWTP are right at levels known to cause feminization, it is unlikely that these levels persist very far downstream,” said Dr. Shea Tuberty, of ASU’s biology department. “Any attempt to reduce the quantity of pharmaceuticals in water is a significant step towards environmental conservation.”

Community members reached out to law enforcement officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the State Bureau of Investigation, the Sheriff’s Department as well as the Boone, Blowing Rock and Seven Devils Police Departments. The river conservationists and law enforcement community united to fight the problem of prescription drug misuse.

“It has been an amazing testament to the collaborative spirit of our community to see how enthusiastically people have united to help host Operation Medicine Cabinet,” said Wendy Patoprsty, Watauga County Extension Agent. “We have over 30 community partners, including, Helen M. Clabough Charitable Foundation, MountainKeepers, Watauga River Conservation Partners, Towns, and police departments of, Boone, Blowing Rock and Seven Devils, the Ashe and Watauga County Sheriff's Office, the State Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Safe Kids North Carolina, Boone Drug, Watauga County Recycling/Solid Waste Department, Watauga Riverkeeper, Appalachian Voices, Food Lion, CVS, the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, Trophy Water Guide Service, Rotary Club of Blowing Rock, The National Committee for the New River, MPrints, NC Cooperative Extension Service, Precision Printing, the Smoky Mountain Center and Appalachian State University just to name a few,” she continued.

“On behalf of all our partners, we are pleased to offer this opportunity to our citizens to safely dispose of unused or unwanted medications properly, and we hope you will come see us on Saturday, October 8^th, and be a part of the community effort to save the rivers and kids from drugs,” said Watauga County Recycling Coordinator Lisa Doty.

To find out more about the event visit DrugTakeBackDay.com.

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[1] http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-03-10-drugs-tap-water_N.htm

Youth Water Art Show Sponsored by Watauga River Partners to be held at Art of Oil during the Downtown Boone October Art Crawl

Water is the key to life and youth involved with the Watauga Hispanic Summer Camp learned all about watersheds, clean water, and aquatic life with Artist Mar Startari-Stegell and Extension Agent Wendy Patoprsty.  The youth created individual art pieces with a water theme this summer and it will be on display during the October Art Crawl at the Art of Oil and you are invited to join us in celebrating our water in the High Country.   

Youth Creating Water Themed Art

 The first summer session the kids learned about fish and their adaptations to different environments through the use of an ancient Japanese art form called Gyotaku.   The Watauga River Partners purchased about 25 fish replicas for Watauga Riverfest years ago for kids to learn about fish anatomy and how they are adapted to live in water.  The Gyotaku fish replicas can be painted and printed onto paper using different colored paints.   The results can be beautiful. 

The second session the kids used water, paint, straws and forced breath to create aquatic looking ecosystems on canvas.  The art project was sponsored by the Watauga River Partners whose main goal is protecting our headwater streams through community education.   The finished artwork will be on display as will information about protecting our water resources at the October Art Crawl at the Art of Oil located at 819 West King Street, Downtown BooneThere will be tasty treats and beverages along with live music.  The art crawl is from 5-9pm.  Hope to see you there!  For more information about the Art of Oil visit their website at www.theartofoil.com

Trash to Art "Visions of our Future" Competition

2004 competition - The Can Dance

Thinking of trash typically makes us think of dirty, smelly items that will end up in the landfills or on the sides of roads as litter.  But much of this “trash” is recyclable, reusable, and is a resource we shouldn’t so quickly “throw away”.  Where is “away” anyways?  It’s still on the planet.   Trash doesn’t have to go to a landfill or be a part of a negative environmental impact.  It can be recycled, reused and redesigned into beautiful art as well as functional items. 

Colors!

Won’t you please join us in creating “Visions of our Future” trash art!  You may be wondering, “What is Trash Art?”  As part of the educational campaign for keeping litter out of our environment and waterways, the Mountain Keepers, Watauga River Partners, Watauga County Recycling, Watauga County Extension, Town of Boone, Watauga CountyLibrary, Elkland Art Center, Mast General Store, Stickboy Bread Co., and Earthfare, are sponsoring a “trash to art” contest.  

According to Watauga County Recycling Coordinator, Lisa Doty, an average of eight tractor trailer loads a day are sent to a landfill in Lenoir.  Last year 39,784 tons of trash were exported out of Watauga County at a cost of $1,330,991.  Recycling is not only good for the environment, but also for the County’s budget since we receive revenue from the sale of recycling.  Recycling rates for all materials have continued to increase over the past few years with a 61 percent increase in plastic recycling since plastic bottles were banned from landfills in October of 2009, but there is still a lot of recyclable material that is being thrown in the trash.  According to Watauga County Extension Agent, Wendy Patoprsty, “during this Falls River Clean Up, about 35% of the litter collected was glass and plastic bottles, and aluminum cans.”

Phone face created in 2004 Trash to Art Competion

We throw away a lot of good trash.  It’s amazing how usable our trash is, and we want to see the trash get a second life!  Cindy Ball of Elkland Art Center says “trash is a really affordable medium to work with and its totally available, everywhere, literally.”   It’s fun to start rethinking trash and how to minimize local and global impacts.  Judith Winecoff of Watauga Library makes a good point when she said “we’re doing two things at once, cleaning up as we create art.  So many times we don’t realize how much trash and litter is out there until we work with it and then we begin to take notice.”   According to Marsha Story “recycling has skyrocketed over the last quarter in the Town of Boone, in fact curbside residential recycling was 81% participation over the last quarter!” 

Entries can be brought to the Watauga County Library from October 3-8.  Please turn your artwork in to Judith Winecoff.  Judging will take place the week of October 10^th.   Rules: The art can be no larger that 3ft x 3ft and must be creations that consist of at least 90% reused or recycled materials, nothing in the art can be purchased!  There will be two age divisions, youth 16 and under and adults over 17.

Awards will be given in each division to the top three and each participant will receive a gift package and certificate.   Art must be picked up the week of October  24^th and you will receive your gifts and awards when art is picked up.   Please contact Wendy Patoprsty at 264-3061 or email Wendy_Patoprsty@ncsu.edu with any questions.

2011 Watauga River Clean Up Results

Dumpsters are full, sneakers are wet, smiles are wide and the Watauga River is a whole lot cleaner!   Thanks to the 114 volunteers who cleaned up 3,740 pounds of trash on Saturday, September 10, 2011!  2010 results were 126 volunteers with 1,940 pounds.  See below the pics for more info.

This year’s river clean up could not of happened without the River Captains.  These are the people who shuttle, transport trash to the dumpsters, and provide leadership for the volunteers who show up to their site.  This year’s River Captains who led volunteer efforts in the Watauga Watershed include:  Barbara Michel of ASU Walker School of Business, Donna Lisenby and Erin Savage of Appalachian Voices Riverkeeper, Dick Hearn, Joan Hearn, and Teresa Buckwalter from the Watauga River Partners, and Travis Small, Andi Cochran of Appalachian Geographical Society, Jaimie McGirt, and Andy Hill.   Foscoe Fishing Company, Appalachian Angler, Watauga River Angler, and River and Earth Adventures are always ready to help out in any way that they can and I surely appreciate their help this year. Thank you all so much!!!

GDS disposal service was a tremendous help, providing open-top dumpsters across the watershed for volunteers to utilize!  Thank you so much GDS for helping to keep our rivers clean!!!  Watauga County Sanitation, Watauga County Maintenance also provided resources to ensure a safe and effective clean up.  Dee Dundon also helped tremendously with glove organization.

Some of the peculiar items volunteers found include a laundry basket, jock strap, boot, iron sink, microwave, engine block, plastic sled, buried gas tank, desk, bed springs and chairs.  The most common item found was beverage bottles and cans, approximately 300 lbs got recycled, but a lot didn’t.  So much stuff in the river I would never go barefoot!!

From Foscoe to Guy Ford Rd, volunteers got stinky, wet and dirty cleaning up the Watauga River - Walter Wall, Molly Miller, Elizabeth Blakely, Don Barten, Zackary Cockerham, Tammy Crumpler, George Rice Crumpler, Justin Allen, Terry Mitchell, Jennifer Brown, Sharon Cumbie Katie Brown, Hannah Stafford, Erin Jones, Phoebe Pollitt, Kai Benza, Katie D’Jernes, Cynthia Davis, Doug Washer, Day Wall, Ben Merritt, Parker Cannon, Cole Finley, Bricatta Travatelo, Allison Rodrigue, Stephanie Buescher, Andrew Hill, Ryan Scott, Chappy Cottwell, Andrew Brown, Melissa Alla, Ryan Walker, Hannah Sheets, M. Randall McNeil, Nancy Fisher, Mollie Jones, Madison Heaton, Joey Bennett, Lydia McDuffie, Daybelis Boyd, Kaitlyn White, Claire Phipps, Erika Barnett,  Sandy Ziegler, Kathy Brown, Ryan Sigsbey, Erin Savage, Emily Morris, Laura Gagliardo, Stephen Davanzo, Mike Mayfield,  Kayley Dana, Ian Myers, Kasey Wagnespack, Katie, Nilges, Megan Tweed, Sarah Tubaugh, Fleming Talton, Johnny ONeal, Jake Duckwall, Alan Marshall, Carson Garrett, Robin Hale, Philip Green, Matthew Helton, Haley Griffith, Sarah Rapp, Amy Rolf, Chelsea Konopka, Terra Davis, Becky Vang, Nick Tompkins, Jacob Michel, Steven Michel, Sean Cain, Katherine Tully, Jennifer Francavilla, Jason Kirschner, Tim Hetherington, Kyle cicenia, H. Patrick DeHart, Adam Letherby, Daryl J Barker Jr, Keith Delgado, Greg Astolfi, Kathryn Wheeler, Marlou Wheeler, Rose Wheeler, Karl Wheeler, Rosi Goetz, Wendy Lewis, Carol Babyak, Jordan Seagraves, Madi Barker, Karson Collins, Joseph Laclzey
Danielle Mulinhill, Kenare Wilsonand the Watauga High School Environmental Club and Lees McRae Community Club.

 Thank you to all the folks who contributed to this year’s Watauga Watershed Clean Up!  I am so grateful to be a part of this caring community!   We will have another clean up in June.  If you are interested in participating please contact Wendy_Patoprsty@ncsu.edu