Saturday Evening Programs Celebrate Wetlands

Date: May 7, 2007
Contact: Kyle Patterson, 970-586-1363

May is American Wetlands Month.  We recognize and celebrate the wonderful ways wetlands enrich the environment and people. Wetlands are among the most valuable but least understood of all natural resources. They provide rich habitat for wildlife. They are places in which many animals and birds build nests and raise their young. Migrating birds stop over in wetlands to rest and to breed on abundant plant life that flourishes there. We celebrate wetlands each May when they are teeming with new animal and plant life.

Wetlands benefit our communities as well. They are valuable because they clean and replenish water supplies and reduce flood risks. In addition, wetlands provide recreational opportunities and aesthetic benefits. They serve as sites for research and education and benefit commercial fishing.   Join us for the following Saturday evening programs in May:

Saturday, May 12, 7:00 p.m. Wild River: The Colorado
In this beautiful film, follow the Colorado River from its headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park through Utah’s Westwater Canyon, the national parks of Canyonlands, Arches, Capitol Reef, and Zion, the fragile beauty and rapids of Grand Canyon, and into Mexico.

Set to classical music by some of the world's greatest composers and narrated by Joseph Campanella, this visually stunning journey will leave you breathless during this 60 minute film.

Saturday, May 19, 7:00 p.m. Wetlands: Between Land and Water
Join Paul McIver from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for this illustrated program on wetlands.  If you have ever wondered what makes a wetland and why we should care, this is the program to see.  Mr. McIver will cover the many wonders and secrets found in America’s wetlands from wildlife habitat, flood control, clean water to places to enjoy.

Paul has 28 years of experience as a science teacher with degrees from Colorado State University and the University of Colorado.   He has worked as a Public Outreach Coordinator on Aquatic Resources for the EPA for the last 18 years. 

These Saturday evening programs are held in the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center Auditorium at 7:00 p.m.  Programs are free and open to the public.  For more information about Rocky Mountain National Park please call [phone].