Conewango Currents Spring 2012

Many prescription drugs are persistent in the environment, scientists are finding.  Some drugs that have shown up are digitalis and birth control, among many others.  Drugs, especially those taken long term are commonly found in water samples.  A certain amount of most drugs passes through the body and is excreted in the urine.  And even with sewage treatment, these drugs pass through the sewage systems largely unaffected and are discharged to our waterways.

Another problem is disposing of unused medications.  We’ve been told for years that we should flush them down the drain.  We are finding that is not such a good idea either.  So what can you do with them?  The Drug Enforcement Administration has been setting up drug “take back” days.  They collect the drugs and dispose of them safely.

The next Drug Take Back Day is April 28, 2012, 10 am to 2 pm.

The cost to you?  It’s free and they make it as convenient as possible for you.  So we encourage you to take those old medications and turn them in!  See the links below for more information- and spread the word to your friends and neighbors.  Planned locations for the Conewango Watershed area are:

Locations in Warren Co.:

Locations in Chautauqua Co.:

Locations in Cattaraugus Co.:

NATIONAL DRUG TAKE-BACK INITIATIVE

http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/

April 28, 2012
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has scheduled another National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day which will take place on Saturday, April 28, 2012, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  This is a great opportunity for those who missed the previous events, or who have subsequently accumulated unwanted, unused prescription drugs, to safely dispose of those medications.

Americans that participated in the DEA’s third National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day on October 29, 2011, turned in more than 377,086 pounds (188.5 tons) of unwanted or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at the 5,327 take-back sites that were available in all 50 states and U.S. territories. When the results of the three prior Take-Back Days are combined, the DEA, and its state, local, and tribal law-enforcement and community partners have removed 995,185 pounds (498.5 tons) of medication from circulation in the past 13 months.

“The amount of prescription drugs turned in by the American public during the past three Take-Back Day events speaks volumes about the need to develop a convenient way to rid homes of unwanted or expired prescription drugs,” said DEA Administrator Michele M. Leonhart. “DEA remains hard at work to establish just such a drug disposal process, and will continue to offer take-back opportunities until the proper regulations are in place.”

“With the continued support and hard work of our more than 3,945 state, local, and tribal law enforcement and community partners, these three events have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, and increased awareness of this critical public health issue,” said Leonhart.

Collection Site Locator:

Find a collection site near you. Check back frequently as collection sites are continuously being added.

Law Enforcement Agencies Only:

For law enforcement agencies that wish to host a collection site please call the POC in your area.

Take-Back Day Partnership Toolbox:

Here you will find a list of files that you can download to use for your own purposes.

General Public Inquiries:

Inquiries can be made at 1-800-882-9539.

Raptor Resource Project

There are a number of nesting pairs of Bald Eagles in our area.  There was one pair nesting along the Conewango at one time.  I don’t know if they are there this year.  One of the best ways to learn first hand about them is by using the internet.  It’s amazing what modern technology can do!  There are several Bald Eagle live web cameras online now.  One of them is on www.ustream.com and you can go to that one by clicking HERE.  They are setting on eggs right now and the first egg is expected to hatch any time now.  Check it out!

This is a project of Raptor Resource Project and more info about them can be found at www.raptorresource.org.

TogetherGreen Initiative

As mentioned before, the TogetherGreen grant had two projects associated with it.  The first was the Conewango Creek Cleanup on Sept 10th, 2011.  The second project is on April 21st, 2012.  It will run from 9 am to 1 pm.  We will be meeting at the Jametown Audubon Center.  The voluteers will be divided up into teams that will each work on a different project:  pulling invasive weeds, prepare the gardens for spring, clean up a section of highway, cleanup a farm dump, or plant native plants.

Come along and have some fun.  There will be prizes and a free lunch!  This will take place rain or shine so come dressed appropriately!!  Wear old clothes, sturdy shoes and bring your gloves along.

Please preregister by calling Lynn at 716-569-2345 or emailing her at lcrossfield@jamestownaudubon.org.  For more information you see the Audubon website HERE.  (Click on the calendar link and pick Apr. 21st.)

Jamestown Audubon Society

Last fall we had our Conewango Creek Cleanup on Sept 10th.  We partnered with the Jamestown Audubon Society to organize and run the cleanup.  The Audubon applied for a grant to help with the expenses for the clean through a program named TogetherGreen.  This is an initiative to get people out and volunteering for the good of the environment.  So they supplied $1400.00 towards the cost of the cleanup through this grant and ask for volunteers from their membership to help our members with the cleanup.  We had a good turn out and got about 47 volunteers despite the weather being pretty rainy.  Roughly a third were CCWA volunteers before.  Approximately 1 third were Audubon volunteers before but about a third were brand new volunteers.

The grant required two projects per year.  One was the cleanup and one is April 21st.  Between the two projects we need to get 50 new volunteers.  So with about 25+ volunteers from the cleanup, we still have a ways to go.  We thank those who volunteered and hope they will help out on April 21st, 2012.  Look for more info t0 come.

Hardy Volunteers Don't let Rain Stop Their Efforts to Clean up Chadakoin River

The board meetings will be held at the CCWA office in Warren on the odd months:  Jan, March, May, July, Sept, Nov.  The address of the CCWA office is 210 North DR, Suite E, Warren PA, 16365.  This is on the second floor of the Stone Building (the name of the building, not the building materials) on the Warren State Hospital Grounds.

Board meetings will be held in Jamestown on the even months of the year:  Feb, Apr, June, Aug, Oct and Dec.  The location is the Conference Room of the Chautauqua Co. Planning and Economic Development office on the 2nd floor.  The address is 200 Harrison St.

Stone Building on Warren State Hospital property