Ole Miss Green Week 2009 Begins Monday with Water Conservation Day

OXFORD,
Miss. – The University of Mississippi kicks off Green Week 2009 Monday
(April 20) with a focus on water – how to use less of it and save money
in the process.

With each day’s special activities planned
around a theme, opening day is dubbed Water Conservation Day and the
featured event is the unveiling of a bioswale near Crosby Hall,
scheduled for 10:30 a.m.

The bioswale uses rocks, plants and
other landscaping elements to slow down rainwater runoff on the
hillside near the residence hall. That, in turn, will curb soil erosion
and help other plants grow, said UM landscaping director Jeff McManus.


“When water is rushing through too fast, it’s not good for plants,” he said. “We expect this project will allow plants with deeper roots to grow and help keep the soil fertile.”

Other activities scheduled for Water Conservation Day:

– Water Trivia/Water Bottle Giveaway

– UM Field Station and Sedimentation Lab Exhibit (Student Union Plaza)

– Five-Minute Power Shower Awareness Campaign, sponsored by South Bank (Student Union)

– Free shower timers also available at South Bank while supplies last

– Clean Water University Exhibit (Student Union Plaza).

“Everybody wants clean drinking water and clean air,” McManus said. “We all play a part in being good stewards of what God has created. That’s our role.”

Green Week 2009 also features ongoing activities and displays at the Student Union Plaza and Oxford City Hall. Visit the Union Plaza to learn about UM’s efforts to green their practices. Local and national organizations and companies will also be showcasing environmental products and services throughout the week. For a full slate of events, go to http://www.green.olemiss.edu. For a blog about other Green Week activities, go to http://olemissgreen.blogspot.com/ .