Central's Yakima WATERS Project Receives Statewide Recognition

April 28, 2008

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC) will recognize Central Washington University's Yakima WATERS (Watershed Activities to Enhance Research in Schools) Project for its educational community outreach. Central will receive the John Stanford Education Achievement Award for its WATERS program during the CLC's 13th Annual Conservation Awards Breakfast, which is to be held at the Washington State Trade and Convention Center in Seattle Thursday, May 1, 2008, from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

"This award is very important to us because it recognizes the environmental education we are accomplishing in schools in the Yakima River basin," says Carey Gazis, CWU Geological Sciences Department associate professor. "We are especially excited to be acknowledged in this way within the first year of this five-year project."

The Yakima WATERS Project is a National Science Foundation-funded program that brings interdisciplinary watershed research into public school curriculum. Under the direction of CWU faculty members, graduate students conduct watershed-related research while teamed up with local fifth through 11th grade students. Central's Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Geological Sciences and Resource Management departments participate in the program.

"The WATERS project is a wonderful demonstration of the synergy between research and learning," explains Jill Arango, Kittitas County director for the Cascade Land Conservancy. "The Cascade Land Conservancy wants to recognize innovative educational programs that serve as not only excellent learning models but also as leadership opportunities for scientists and teachers in our communities. The WATERS project has all those elements and is very deserving of statewide recognition for their efforts."

WATERS graduate students are teamed up with a local teacher and spend 10 hours a week with their designated class. The program focuses on riparian ecology and biodiversity, water chemistry and quality, geomorphology and climate change as well as shifts in land and water usage.

The CLC, founded in 1989, is the largest independent land trust in Washington state. It protects more than 140,000 acres in 10 counties. For more information about the CLC's awards breakfast, go to www.cascadeland.org/events/awards. For more information about WATERS, visit www.cwu.edu/~waters.

Contact: Carey Gazis, CWU Department of Geological Sciences, 509-963-2820, cgazis@geology.cwu.edu
Teri Olin, CWU Public Relations & Marketing, olint@cwu.edu, 509-963-1416

Central Washington University is a master's degree-granting institution with approximately 10,000 students and 1,500 faculty and staff. More than 160 undergraduate and master's degrees are offered. Founded in 1891, the Ellensburg campus is located in the heart of Washington State, nestled between the Cascade Mountains and the Columbia River. Since 1975, CWU has served the needs of place bound students at six university centers throughout the state. CWU is an AA/EEO Title IX Institution.