Free environmental workshop scheduled in Kidder Township

The KTEAC will host an educational workshop open to the public in early June for Kidder Township. The focus of the workshop will be either a documentary on Marcellus shale or native species of plants. The program will last for about an hour with a question and answer session immediately following the workshop.

The topic of Marcellus shale and hydraulic fracturing drilling is something many people will be facing in the near future. While there are no deposits of Marcellus shale in the immediate area of Kidder Township, the process used to drill for the natural gas deposits can dramatically affect the water table which will affect the drinking water for local residents.

The process of drilling takes millions of gallons of water from local bodies of water such as the Delaware River and pump the water in the group to force out the natural gas. They are able to recover 90% of the water used which then has to go through a purification process. Even with the purification there is still a chance that unwanted byproducts are attached to the water.

The topic of native species of plants for landscaping is an important topic of discussion for Kidder Township residents. It not only gives natural beauty that is similar to the original landscape of the area, but it also ensures that what is planted will survive in the area. Often people plant trees or shrubs that are not native to the area and in some cases can not survive in the northeastern climate.

Previous workshops held by the Kidder Township Environmental Advisory Council were on rain gardens and trees in 2008 and then storm water in 2009. They decided to move it to June to try and capture a larger audience.

The KTEAC will continue to set up free educational workshops to educate the public on environmentally friendly ways to care for their homes and protect the environment.