WEEK OF JUNE 15, 2023
VOLUME 134 | ISSUE 47
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Repurposed veterans’ wreaths give fish a habitat BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Grace Tuchalski, 5, learns about the river table and flooding at the South Platte Renew water festival.
PHOTO BY NINA JOSS
Families learn about wastewater at South Platte Renew water festival BY NINA JOSS NJOSS@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
When most kids hear “wastewater,” they don’t think of fun. But at South Platte Renew’s water festival on June 7, which is intended to be an annual event, families got to experience the fascinating, science-driven, and yes — even fun — world of water and natural
resource renewal. South Platte Renew is the third largest water renewal facility in Colorado, cleaning nearly 20 million gallons of wastewater each day. Coowned by the cities of Englewood and Littleton, it cleans wastewater from 300,000 residents in these cities and other communities, according to its website. In addition to wastewater, the
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plant cleans and renews naturals gases and solids, giving many forms of waste new uses in the environment. “Really what we’re trying to do here is change the perception of wastewater,” said Kacie Allard, deputy director of business services. “We’re more than just a sewage plant. We renew
Walkers, cyclists and joggers enjoying the trails at South Platte Park on the afternoon of June 1 may have noticed a strong, unusual scent of pine in the air. Those who followed their nose to the scent’s origin at Eaglewatch Lake saw something even more interesting. On the southern edge of the lake, a small boat carried large structures made of holiday wreaths, PVC pipes and cinder blocks. When the boat’s sonar alerted the driver that he was at the edge of a dropoff, he and his colleagues pushed the structures off the boat and into the water. From shore, Bob Keyser watched the objects, which he had spent hours building a few days prior, descend into the water. With other members of Littleton Elks Lodge and the Colorado Elks Association Veterans Committees, Keyser built the structures to recycle wreaths that had been used to decorate Veterans’ gravesites during the holiday season. Instead of throwing them away, the Elks gave the wreaths a new life as fish habitats.
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Landmark 20th
July 28, 29 & 30
Evergreen Jazz Festival Big Talent! Small Venues! Great Setting!
Dancers Welcome!
Free Parking!
EvergreenJazz.org 303-697-5467