Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Office of University Relations
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           504/549-2341/fax 504-549-2061
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           www.selu.edu/NewsEvents
    Date: 4/16/98
      Contact:                           Christina Chapple  

SLU, SIERRA CLUB TO HOST REGIONAL WATER QUALITY SEMINAR
     HAMMOND -- Southeastern Louisiana University and the Honey Island Group of the
Sierra Club will host a one-day seminar focusing on problems, progress and challenges facing 
the Florida Parishes' scenic rivers.
     "Rivers of the Florida Parishes: Water Quality--Past, Present and Future" begins at 9 a.m.
April 25 in Room 133 of the SLU University Center. Registration is $30.
     The seminar will bring together governmental and environmental representatives,
including State Rep. Diane Winston of Covington; the parish presidents of Tangipahoa,
Livingston, St. Tammany and Washington Parishes; the mayors of Hammond and Covington,
and Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation executive director Carlton Dufrechou and
environmental director Neil Armingeon.
     Winston will give the keynote address at 9:30 a.m. while Armingeon will given an
overview of southeast Louisiana water quality issues at 11 a.m.
     Presentations are planned at 10 a.m. by Dale Givens, Louisiana Department of
Environmental Quality; Blue Watson, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries; and Paul
Fry, Louisiana Department of Agriculture Forestry Service.
     Beginning at 11:15 p.m., 45-minute segments will spotlight each parish. Parish presidents
Dewey Ratcliff, Livingston Parish; Gordon Burgess, Tangipahoa Parish; Steve Stefancik, St.
Tammany Parish, and Hollis "Pete" Stafford III, Washington Parish, will give their perspectives
on the growth and environmental issues facing their parish. They will be followed by experts on
the individual rivers flowing through the parishes, including Southeastern biological sciences
professors Gary Childers and Robert Hastings and Covington Mayor Keith Villere.
                                 (MORE) 
RIVERS SEMINAR -- Add One

     The waterways discussed will include the Amite, Tickfaw, Tangipahoa, Tchefuncte,
Bogue Falaya, Bogue Chitto and Pearl Rivers.
     Space is limited. For registration, call the Sierra Club's Sarah Craven at 504-598-2700. 
                                 - SLU -
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