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ORSANCO Celebrates Earth Day With Traveling Aquarium
2,200 gallon freshwater aquarium featuring Ohio River Fish
(Cincinnati, OH) –Celebrate Earth Day this year up close and personal with Ohio River fish! ORSANCO’s Foundation for Ohio River Education (FORE) is featuring their Life Below the Waterline mobile freshwater aquarium at the Miami Parks Hug the Earth Festival located at Lost Creek Reserve in Troy, Ohio, on Saturday, April 20th from 12-5pm. "We hope the engaging outdoor experiences at the Hug the Earth festival will strengthen visitors' connection with nature. This fits perfectly with the spirit of Earth Day as we naturally preserve what we value," said Amanda Smith, Miami County Park District marketing administrator.
The 2,200 gallon aquarium highlights the diversity of fish in the Ohio River and its tributaries, giving the public a unique opportunity to see aquatic life typically hidden deep in the waters of the river. Fish for each exhibit are collected using electrofishing and are returned after the event. The Ohio River is one of the most diverse and resilient rivers in the country from an ecological perspective. Based on information collected by ORSANCO scientists, the river is thriving, supporting over 160 species of fish and other wildlife, including a combination of prehistoric fish like Gar, Paddlefish, Bowfin, and Sturgeon.
FORE is hosting a series of environmental education events throughout the tristate area this spring and summer, encouraging environmental stewardship and teaching the public about the Ohio River and its abundant resources. FORE programs are designed to teach people of all ages about the abundant resources of the Ohio River and help change negative perceptions. The public can experience FORE’s mobile aquarium at numerous events within the Ohio River Basin in 2024, and the program is already accepting applications for events in 2025! View the full schedule of events at orsanco.org/lbtwevent-calendar.
Earth Day occurs on April 22nd annually and is a day to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Celebrated since 1970, it is a day to recognize the interconnectedness we all have to our planet and the role we play as stewards to protect it. Today the Ohio River serves as an important environmental and economic resource, maintaining significant cultural, ecological, and recreational value. The river is a lifeline for countless communities across multiple states. Its waters sustain diverse wildlife and aquatic habitat, provide drinking water for 5 million people, and drive industries crucial to regional economies. It serves as a major shipping corridor, transporting more than 184 million tons of cargo annually. Challenges for the Ohio River and many other waterways include pollution, runoff, and industrial waste that not only degrade water quality, but also impact public health, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of those who depend on the river. The Ohio River Basin is home to more than 30 million people. On Earth Day this year, FORE encourages people to consider celebrating the value of the Ohio River and commit to protecting this essential resource that sustains quality of life for the entire basin.
Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO)
ORSANCO is an interstate agency with authority to operate a wide variety of water quality monitoring programs on the Ohio River for eight member states. The ORSANCO Foundation for Ohio River Education (FORE) conducts environmental education and outreach programs that teach the importance of preserving water quality of the Ohio River and the ecosystem it supports. For more information about the Life Below the Waterline program, contact Sarah Segars at ssegars@orsanco.org
MEDIA CONTACT
Annette Shumard
Communications & Environmental Education Manager, ORSANCO
5735 Kellogg Ave, Cincinnati OH, 45230
513-833-1376
ssegars@orsanco.org
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