LITTLE ROCK - Are you concerned about the stream, lake, river, or pond near you and want to do something to help out its water quality, or fish habitat, or stream banks?  The Arkansas Stream Team, a citizen’s based approach to improving your local stream, lake, river or pond, is having a “how to” conference at the Ferndale 4-H Center May 13 through May 15.

Beginning on Friday afternoon with some examples of what some citizen’s groups have done in their local area, this meeting will provide hands on as well as verbal presentations on how each one of us can do a better job taking care of our water resources here in the Natural State.

After a short session Saturday morning on total maximum daily loads, adult groups will be testing a nearby stream for water quality and kicking bugs in the water to see how healthy the stream is and what can be done about it if it is found lacking. This is a family affair and children will have their own track going at the same time, learning how to fish in a pond on the center’s grounds, doing their own bug kicks and learning about all kinds of aquatic critters found in local waters.

On Saturday night, after an awards dinner, attendees can kick up their heels to an Ozark Bluegrass Band and take part in a raffle and auction.  Finally on Sunday there will be a session for adults on how to get assistance and funding from various state and federal agencies, while the kids will have another session on Arkansas wildlife from around the state.