Public Education and Citizen Stewardship

One of the most important ways to help clean up Beaver Brook and keep it clean is to talk to residents about the brook and encourage the public to take an interest in stewardship of the brook. One project that has helped to develop a sense of stewardship among local children is the Salmon in the Classroom program. The City has been partnering with the Monadnock Chapter of Trout Unlimited and with one classroom in each of Keene's five public elementary schools to raise Atlantic salmon for release into Beaver Brook. Students watch as the salmon develop from eyed-eggs, monitor the water quality in the tank, and each May, release the salmon fry into the brook. Students learn about the importance of clean water for their "salmon family" and take the lesson of stewardship with them when they release their family into its new home of Beaver Brook.

Other Public Education and Citizen Stewardship efforts have included:

• Annual brook clean-up
• Stormwater Pollution Prevention mailers to many residents within the Beaver Brook Watershed
• Project information and survey mailer to property owners adjacent to Beaver Brook
• Pet Waste informational flyer distributed to dog owners when getting licenses from the City Clerk's office.
• Worked with Cheshire County Conservation District to install Rain Garden demonstration sites at Public Works and Police Department locations.
• Project presentations to local school and environmental groups.
• A short program aired on Cheshire TV's "Room 207"

You can also contact Eric Swope for more information!