Public Education Efforts
As of the fall of 2005, the Pueblo City-County Health Department’s efforts to educate Pueblo’s citizens who live 
along Fountain Creek about the health and safety issues surrounding the Fountain Creek have included temporary warning posters and individual flyers. Other educational flyers have been prepared by Colorado Springs Utilities and will be distributed in 2006, to people impacted by Fountain Creek. The issues addressed are germ-filled waters, flash flooding, and dangerous objects. The goal is to warn people who may live, work and frequent the creek corridor of the hazards of creek water.
With cooperation, funding and manpower from Colorado Springs Utilities, permanent warning signs have been placed along the Fountain Creek through Pueblo and Pueblo County. A total of 26 permanent warning signs have been installed at the following locations along the Fountain Creek:
- Pinon Bridge
- Jerry Murphy Rd at 47th Street
- State Highway 47 bridge
- Montebello & Mohawk
- Behind Target
- Haaff Elementary School
- Behind King Soopers
- Hunter & Chinook
- US Highway 50 public access
- 13th Street east of Erie
- 8th Street bridge
- 6th Street & Erie public access
- 4th Street bridge
- Sticker Park
- Joplin bridge trail head
Educational flyers were delivered to the following public schools on September 2nd for distribution to students (approximately 2,250 children):
- Belmont Elementary
- Ben Franklin Elementary
- Bradford Elementary
- Fountain Elementary
- Haaff Elementary
- Parkview Elementary
- Risley Middle School
Warning posters and flyers were delivered in early September to each of the following agencies that serve the needs of low income residents and the homeless:
- Care and Share Food Bank, 250 S. Santa Fe Drive
- Cooperative Care Center, 325 W. 10th Street
- Posada, 1010 N. Grand Ave.
- Pueblo County Food Dist. Center/Housing & Human Services Dept., 2631 E. 4th Street
- Pueblo Soup Kitchen, W. 7th Street and Greenwood Ave.
- Salvation Army Kitchen, W. 13th Street and Elizabeth Street
- Wayside Cross Mission, 728 W. 4th Street
- YWCA, W. 8th St. and Santa Fe Drive
With technical and financial support from the City of Pueblo Storm Water Utility, the Pueblo City-County Health Department presented public outreach programs on storm water to youth throughout the year. The programs help children to understand the Earth’s water cycle, how they can prevent storm water pollution, and the harmful effects of littering. Photos of Pueblo locations and environmental concepts were shown in a slide show, followed by a simulation of storm water pollution using a scale model of a city. The table top model consists of a large river, creek, ditch, residential neighborhood, farm, golf course, water treatment plant, factory, roads and bridges. The audience sees first hand how pollutants are carried away in run off that flows off the land, and enters the waterways during a rain storm. After the program, each child receives handouts on storm water education, a small car litter bag and magnet with a prevention message.
Litter Bee and Storm Water presentations were given to the Hyde Park Community Center Summer Recreation Program, Fulton Heights Recreation Center Summer EPA Day Camp, Boys and Girls Club at Keating Center & Sprague Center and the La Gente Center Summer Sports Leagues.
The City of Pueblo Storm Water Utility Department hosted an information booth at the Colorado State Fair (Aug. 26-Sept. 5) that highlighted their proposed Lake Minnequa renovation project and storm water pollution prevention. The Pueblo City-County Health Department prepared an education flip book to display based on the Litter Bee and Storm Water slide show. The information was geared to school age children and many informational brochures, litter bags and magnets were given away. The Pueblo City-County Health Department staffed the booth on three different days and talked to State Fair visitors about solid waste, littering, and storm water in Pueblo County. Approximately 500 visitors from all over Colorado, 250 from Pueblo, filled out surveys that tested their knowledge of storm water issues. It is estimated that 800-1000 people stopped by the booth during the 10 day event.
A plan is in place to continue educating the public about the health of the Fountain Creek presented to every 4th grade class, approximately 1300 children, in Pueblo Schools. The Litter Bee and Storm Water Education programs will be given to School District 60 beginning October 2005. More plans are being made with the Regional Fountain Creek Education Team (composed of representatives from Pueblo City Council, Pueblo City-County Health Department, El Paso County Department of Public Health and Environment, Colorado Springs Utilities, City of Pueblo, School Districts 60 & 70, Pueblo Teen Council, Pueblo Emergency Management, Committee for Water Safety and Awareness and other local agencies) to reach all students in Pueblo County.