Division of Agriculture teams with Arkansas brewery to promote environmental stewardship
May 5, 2023
By the U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts:
- Extension’s Know the Flow NWA partners with Ozark Beer Company
- Know the Flow Golden Lager promotes stormwater awareness
- Available at Ozark’s taproom in Rogers, liquor stores throughout Northwest Arkansas
(480 words)
(Newsrooms: Download photos connected with the project.)
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is teaming up with one of the state’s beer producers to promote awareness of stormwater runoff and its effects on natural waterways.
The Northwest Arkansas Urban Stormwater Education Program, an ongoing effort of the Division of Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension Service, promotes stormwater pollution prevention with public art projects such as UpStream Art and Follow the Flow whiskers, as well as litter clean-ups, promotion of low-impact development and more.
The program, also commonly known as Know the Flow NWA, has now partnered with Ozark Beer Company to produce Know the Flow Golden Lager, a beer that calls on local citizens to help protect water in Northwest Arkansas.
Jane Maginot, extension stormwater educator and Washington County extension agent for the Division of Agriculture, said the partnership was formed to spread awareness that storm drain systems are a direct link from city streets to urban creeks.
“Ozark Beer Company chose a small batch release of a golden lager for this campaign due to the crisp, clean and light flavor of the lager that goes great with the imagery of clean water and floating on a hot day,” Maginot said.
Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, streets and parking lots prevent stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground.
“Many residents have a misconception that storm drains are part of the sanitary sewer system that leads to a wastewater treatment plant,” Maginot said. “Instead, storm drains act as a direct link transporting stormwater untreated to local streams, rivers, lakes, and wetlands.”
Stormwater tends to take everything in its path — oil, litter, antifreeze, yard clippings and pet waste, just to name a few — and can end up causing adverse effects on plants, fish, animals and people, she said.
The Know the Flow Lager’s can features the artwork of Lee Porter of Fayetteville, who painted a storm drain mural for the UpStream Art project that is managed by Stormwater Education Program.
“Each can gives the message that stormwater flows untreated down our streets and drains, directly to local creeks,” Maginot said. The cans feature a QR code that takes users to the program's website, which suggests things that people can do every day to protect water from stormwater pollution.
Know the Flow Golden Lager is available for a limited time at Ozark Beer Company's taproom in Rogers, Arkansas, and at several liquor stores in Northwest Arkansas.
In addition to the beer release, Ozark Beer Company, UpStream Art, and the City of Rogers have partnered on a storm drain mural painted outside the taproom. The mural, painted by Northwest Arkansas artist, Cassie Conley, depicts the rolling hills of Northwest Arkansas in the shape of the state, with water flowing from the hills into the storm drain with the words "Drains to Creeks" written into the art.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media Contact:
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@Ryan_McG44
501-671-2120