Vicksburg, Miss……The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Vicksburg District along with the Aquatic and Wildlife Education Foundation of Bossier City, Louisiana, and other sponsors will present the Ninth Annual Water Resource Festival. “Water, Our Most Valuable Treasure,” will be this year’s theme. The two-day festival kicks off on May 9th from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. for student participation. It will continue on Saturday, May 10, from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. for the general public. Both days’ events will be held at the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier City.
Over 300 elementary school children are expected to participate in Friday’s events. The USA Swimming Foundation’s “Make a Splash” program will sponsor Olympic swimmer, Sabir K. Muhammad, who will be joined by members of the Shreveport-Bossier Fire Department Dive Team and Ozark Society in telling their stories and demonstrating life-saving techniques to the children.
On Saturday, the public is invited to attend presentations that feature water safety, fish and waterfowl biology, and water resources. There will be life jacket instruction and giveaways, while supplies last.
There will be numerous other presentations during the two-day event from multiple partners and sponsors. An anticipated 20,000 visitors are expected to gain a better knowledge of the natural resources of the Red River waterways of Louisiana by participating.
The public is invited and the event is free of charge. For more information, contact Diane Cappo of the Aquatic and Wildlife Education Foundation at 318-742-7804 or the Corps’ Louisiana Field Office lead ranger, Joey Minter, at 318-422-3351.
The Vicksburg District manages thousands of acres that offer recreational opportunities that include fishing, boating, camping, hiking, bicycling, swimming, and photography. The Louisiana Field Office (LFO) of the Corps encompasses over 200 miles along the Ouachita River from Camden, Arkansas, to Jonesville, Louisiana, containing 24 parks and boat ramps. Bayou Bodcau Dam, Wallace Lake, Caddo Lake, 10 Recreation Areas on the Red River, Grand Ecore Visitor Center, and J Bennett Johnston Waterways Regional Visitor Center. These parks host over 732,084 visitors annually. For more information, visit the LFO website. http://www.mvk.usace.army.mil/Missions/Recreation/LouisianaFieldOffice.aspx
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Release no. 14-039