The Ferguson-Florissant School District will present its Second Annual Watershed Festival at Little Creek Nature Area, 2295 Dunn Road in Florissant, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 25. This is a free “rain or shine” event.

The festival will celebrate the continuation of Little Creek’s exciting watershed restoration project and raise public awareness about the conservation of nature’s most precious resource – water.

“How many times will you have an opportunity to learn about the wastewater treatment process, get to purify water for drinking, stroke animal skins and learn cool facts about birds and other wildlife in one day?” said Eric Hadley, science and Little Creek coordinator for the Ferguson-Florissant School District.

Guests will have a chance to explore Little Creek’s 96 acres of farm, prairie and forest land owned and operated by the Ferguson-Florissant School District. It includes revitalized stream banks, the new “Raccoon” walking bridge and Discovery Pond, a man-made pond that was dedicated at last year’s festival.

“Most people wouldn’t expect to find a ‘natural treasure chest’ in the middle of a bustling city, but here we are,” Hadley said.

“We have winding creeks and beautiful ponds. We have farm, prairie and forest land. We are the home to countless living creatures. We even have hiking trails.”

Activities for children include arts and crafts, magnetic fishing, origami jumping frogs, sensory bottles, puppets, furs and live animals.

In addition to presentations from Missouri water professionals, more than 20 exhibitors from the environmental community will host games and award prizes.

The Missouri American Water Co., Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, World Bird Sanctuary, Butterfly House, Saint Louis Zoo, Audubon Society of Missouri and Missouri Department of Conservation will all staff representatives.

“One of our goals is for people to leave with a greater appreciation of how fortunate we are to live in the confluence of three rivers and have such plentiful water sources,” said April McClain, festival event coordinator and Missouri American Water engineering technician.

“What happens in our watershed impacts other people both locally and beyond,” said Jack Bowles, watershed restoration project manager.

“Whatever is placed in Discovery Pond will evaporate into molecules that will go into one of our rivers and eventually travel around the entire planet.”

The project began in June 2007 when Little Creek received $385,000 in grant funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7, $100,000 from the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation and more than $420,000 in matching funds and other resources from Little Creek Watershed Restoration Steering Committee partners.

The Steering Committee includes the City of Florissant, Centocor Biologics, LLC, East-West Gateway Council of Governments, the Ferguson-Florissant School District, Great Rivers Greenway District, Intuition & Logic, the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District, the Missouri American Water, Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, Missouri Department of Conservation, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, North County, Inc., the Open Space Council, Saint Louis Christian College, St. Louis County Soil & Water Conservation District and the Special School District.

The public is free to explore the plants and animals at Little Creek from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 2295 Dunn Road, in Florissant. Groups of five or more should check in at the office.

Guests should park at the upper M4 parking lot (located just off of Elizabeth Avenue) at McCluer High School, 1896 S. New Florissant Road, in Florissant. Shuttles will run from this location to Little Creek every 15 minutes beginning at 9:45 a.m. and ending at 3:30 p.m. Parking at Little Creek is limited to those with handicapped license plates or hang tags.

Those interested in volunteering at the festival, or at other times, should call Barbra Stephenson at 314-831-7386.