We're long past the days when we ignored and abused our streams to the point where they'd actually catch fire (Cuyahoga River, Cleveland, 1969).
But our flowing waterways still need plenty of attention to be able to support all the creatures that live in them and depend upon them.
Bear Creek, the stream that connects Ashland and Medford with the Rogue River, still lags in meeting some water quality standards. And that's why the Stream Smart program was created, to help people learn to take better care of the creek.
Greg Stabach, Natural Resources Program Manager at the Rogue Valley Council of Governments, visits with details of the program and its many facets.