WBOI News recently reported on the completion of a project in Fort Wayne to decrease the amount of sewage overflow into the St. Joseph River. Fort Wayne’s sewers would overflow during heavy rains, whouch would carry sewage and pollution into the river, and a 2008 mandate required that Fort Wayne and other cities had to reduce the number of overflows.
The city managed to complete the project four years ahead of schedule and cost less than they expected by increasing utility rates.
The ERC’s director Bruce Kingsbury is working with the City of Fort Wayne and others on the concept of a downtown facility focusing on environmental stewardship and sustainability. It is proposed as part of the Riverfront Fort Wayne Development and would help the community pursue the goals of enhancing the economy, providing additional recreational opportunities, and protecting and restoring the rivers and other habitats.
For previous coverage, read the recent article in the News Sentinel here.
IPFW’s Dr. Sherrie Steiner and her Environmental Sociology students completed their initial investigation into industrial sites and environmental hazards in Blackford County, 50 miles south of Fort Wayne. They generated maps and made videos documenting their efforts. Here is the link to one of their videos.
The ERC worked with the class to help them collect and depict spatial information using GIS. Here is an example of one of thier products!
“The mapping expertise that the university brings to this project are a tremendous benefit for the community,” said Dr. Indra Frank, the Hoosier Environmental Council’s environmental health project director. “This will help us have a clearer picture of possible environmental hazards.” As professor Steiner noted, “This project has been collaboratively designed and implemented with our community partners,” said Sherrie Steiner, Visiting Assistant Professor of Sociology at IPFW. “I am hoping that this experience will strengthen a sense of civic responsibility and personal efficacy within students and among members of the community as pertains to environmental engagement.”
