Water Wise: Water Conservation & Watershed Health Education | |
|
Year
|
 |
2009 |
|
Proponent
|
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Cariboo Chilcotin Conservation Society (08 LR 10) |
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Project type
|
|
Engagement |
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FSWP funding source
|
|
Living Rivers |
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Grant amount
|
|
$22,000 |
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Total project value
|
|
$185,170 |
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ID number
|
|
09-LR50-E |
Location:
Cariboo-Chilcotin
Project Summary
Overview
Our education of school age students reaches over 55 elementary, secondary, & alternate classes, with students offered 4 modules on water conservation, watershed health, water quality & how it relates to our lives and the fish & wildlife reliant on healthy watersheds. Instructors use models (working mini aquifer and 3D watershed), fieldtrips for hands on experience. Schools partake in an annual Storm Drain painting, raising awareness within the neighborhoods of healthy water practices. At the Outdoor school, modules Invertebrates, The Perfect Stream, Ecological Webs- Species at Risk, and Winter Snow Science Module are taught and mini-water sessions given to each school group (25 classes/800 students). Signage and brochures are throughout the centre, used by hundreds of local groups also using the centre throughout the year. Within the communities, Water Wise targets gardeners (with Xeriscape workshops and brochures on rain barrels /draught hardy plants & xeriscape methods), businesses (local fast food, washrooms in numerous buildings including govt., banks, businesses, recreation centres) and is developing a local water safe products list for Water Wise buyers. Water Wise involves major publications (regions Parks Field guide & Salmonids and Wetlands brochures) and events: Children’s Festival, WL Stampede Parade, Rivermania, Earth & World Water Day.
Objectives
1. Modules (grades 1-12) - Water Chemistry, Watersheds 1 & 2, Waste-water and Groundwater, and Water Quality. Grade 6’s tour City waterworks, grade 8’s water quality testing/invertebrate netting & oxygen meter.
2. Outdoor school (grades 4-7) teach the Invertebrate module, watershed/carbon footprint module and snow science module, in 3 day sessions throughout fall and winter.
3. Community program engage the public in workshops, events and displays throughout the communities. Provide public with tools (brochures to save water, check list of safe water products, run ads/articles.
4. Publications & signage an on-going focus on watersheds within community distribute Parks Guide, brochures, articles on Earth Day and World Water day, signage throughout the community (create water wise sites).
Methods
WW Instructor will send out reminders to teachers and principals to schedule dates/times for their in-class lessons and field excursions. In addition to the current modules being taught, the following new modules will be developed by our Instructor: Water & Our Carbon Footprint; Water & Climate Change; and Water & Sustainability. These will be presented to the Gavin Lake staff for input. Field trips will be organized for grade 6 classes to learn about the City water system (view wells and treatment systems) and grade 8 classes to test water quality, net invertebrate and test oxygen levels. Storm drain painting and education in community neighborhoods will be the target of Environment Week.
CCCS will coordinate with the Gavin Outdoor school for fall/winter classes and the new Winter Snow module. Throughout the community staff will replenish all brochures (rainbarrel, xeriscape, WW tips, Wetlands, Salmonids & Forests & Waterways brochures), and check all signage is in good repair. Our WW Director and assistant will work with dance group and children’s festival, to develop works including our newly created Salmon suits events will include the Children’s Festival, Williams Lake Stampede and Horsefly River Salmon Festival parade and classes. Hardware & grocery stores Water Friendly cleaning lists and Water Wise checks on store items will be instigated. Working with the City, Water Wise will promote products through a City rebate system for dual flush toilets and front load washing machines.
Mini-water talks to community groups, engaging them in taking on challenges and changing habits will continue. A Hotel and Restaurant campaign to save water through efficient practices and allow customers water saving choices will be developed and initiated. Publications and signage will be on-going, and a salmon statute and sign at the trailhead of the Williams Lake River Valley will educate on salmonids.
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