FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
3 June 2009
CONTACT Kristian Gustavson, Below the Surface—p: 760.277.3503 e: kristian@belowthesurface.org Kimberly Garrison, Shedd Aquarium PR—p: 312.692.2709 e: kgarrison@sheddaquarium.org ______________________________________________________________________
Below the Surface Presents THE 90-DAY PLAN for Water Conservation to Illinois Schools at Shedd Aquarium ~New watershed-based initiative will soon launch to educate Illinois students and the general public throughout the Mississippi River Watershed about water conservation~ Chicago, IL – On June 22nd 2009, at 10:30 AM on the North Terrace of the Shedd Aquarium—Below the Surface, a group dedicated to water conservation, is launching The 90-Day Plan: 90 Ways in 90 Days to Clean and Conserve Water. The 90-Day Plan is a unique program designed to forge a connection between people’s everyday actions and their downstream impacts—the “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico is over 8,000 sq mi. The 90-Day Plan leads to IL Governor Pat Quinn’s It’s Our River Day Celebration on September 19th 2009. The concept lies in the time it takes water from the source of Mississippi River to reach the sea, aimed at reducing pollution and saving water as the river flows. It will be an interactive online program at http://www.belowthesurface.org/90dayplan.php with plans to develop it into curriculum. For more information about It’s Our River Day, please call Olivia Dorothy at 217.785.2729 or email olivia.dorothy@illinois.gov. “We hope to create a solid, long-lasting relationship with Illinois teachers and students—as well as ultimately enact positive solutions throughout the Mississippi Watershed,” said Kristian Gustavson co-founder of Below the Surface. The Mississippi Watershed covers about 42% of the continental US—we all live downstream! The 90-Day Plan will teach kids about key concepts such as water runoff and non-point source pollution while providing them with lessons they can use throughout their lives. “America’s waterways cannot continue to be polluted. Through taking the simple watershed-based initiatives instilled in The 90-Day Plan, Illinois students will be able to make a difference for themselves and future generations,” said Nate Frenkel nate@belowthesurface.org political director of Below the Surface. To follow The 90-Day Plan 1) Log on to http://www.belowthesurface.org/90dayplan.php everyday beginning on June 22nd. 2) Announce and/or Post the tip of the day to clean or conserve water. 3) Follow the BTS Blog, Twitter, Youtube, Facebook, Myspace, and Podcasts for daily updates. Participation is critical to the success of The 90-Day Plan; together Illinois teachers and BTS are going to provide solutions to an ever-growing problem.