| Even at midday on
January 19th, a galaxy of stars shone brightly at The Renaissance
Portsmouth Hotel. And, no wonder. The Annual River Stars Recognition
Luncheon recognized 19 Stars...more than any year since the program began!
Working on the Water was the theme of
this year's event and the River Stars' accomplishments illustrated it
perfectly. During 2005, business and industrial River Stars reduced pollution by a documented 8.2
million pounds. And 39.6 million pounds of other materials were reduced or
recycled--over three times more than last year. Overall goals for pollution
prevention (P2) and wildlife habitat were exceeded.
If there was a sun in this galaxy, increased
funding may have been it. Additional grants for programs allowed The
Elizabeth River Project to undertake more and to contract with Bay
Environmental for assistance.
Everybody Works!
Employees, members and volunteers of industries, clubs, smaller companies,
municipalities and universities put in hours
 of
effort. Even some bugs are put to work!Plants, too!
Two examples: NOAA Marine Operations Center ~
Atlantic, put microbes to work cleaning bilge and grease. Amerada Hess
carried out a pilot program of phytoremediation in which
plantings are established to absorb and recycle pollutants.
Oysters got new homes and went to work to
restore the river! Even waste was put to work, as when SPSA
used wastewater for dust suppression, In fact, at the same time SPSA
saved more than $400,000 with P2 projects, it generated revenue of more
than $14 million! And all around the Elizabeth River basin, buffer zones
are putting trees and shrubs to work absorbing runoff before it can
enter wetlands areas.
See what these River Stars accomplished by
clicking on each, below...and think about how YOU might shine
as a River Star.
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