Nevada Students Participate In
Largest Single-Day Water Education Event

n Friday, September 23, 2005 students from West End Elementary School in Fallon participated in Make a Splash with Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) as part of a nationwide water education event of more than 50,000 students around the nation. The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection (NDEP) and River Wranglers sponsor the annual Nevada event with Nestlé Waters North America. The Nevada event was coordinated by Mary Kay Riedl (Nevada Project WET Coordinator) and Linda Conlin (River Wranglers) with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Make a Splash with Project WET is a national day of water education celebrated each September with support from Nestle Waters of North America . It is celebrated across the United States with water festivals that are educational, fun, and interactive water celebrations where students explore a variety of water-related topics. This year over 50,000 students gathered at 90 different sites in all 50 states, the water education theme was Every Drop Counts.

The Nevada's Make a Splash festival is set up as an outdoor school where students rotate through "classrooms" and participate in lessons pertaining to water and the environment. Jeannette Dahl, Lahontan Valley Environmental Alliance, opened the ceremony by asking the student to "recognize the POWER of water and to consider the importance of this natural resource in our daily lives. Water has the ability to generate tsunamis, hurricanes, and drought. We are all affected by water.

Approximately 200 students spent the day at Norm and Sue Frey's ranch to learn about behaviors that impact our water quality and practices that make a difference to conserve and protect water resources.

Students completed hands-on activities to learn about the hydrologic cycle, water conservation and water quality, ground and surface waters, erosion, urban runoff, and wetlands. Professionals from numerous local, state and federal agencies and organizations facilitated the activity stations. This webpage is our water festival celebration recognizing the need for water education and our appreciation of the vital role water plays in our daily lives.

Our sincere thanks and appreciation is extended to Norm and Sue Frey who offered their ranch along the Carson River as a beautiful setting to celebrate and to learn about water. Thank you to every one who participated. We hope that everyone gained a greater understanding of the environment in relation to themselves, their community, and their watershed. We hope that you continue to learn and understand that even small actions make a big difference in conserving and protecting water resources.

A complete list of Activity Stations, Facilitators and Agency Sponsors is provided below.

To learn more about Make a Splash with Project WET visit www.projectwetusa.org

Make A Splash with Project WET Water Festiva
West End Elementary School

Just Passing Through — Excess sediment can negatively impact water quality and aquatic organisms. In this activity students investigated how vegetation affects the movement of water over land surfaces. They learned about the effects of sediment on the environment; compared the turbidity of water solutions; and investigated ways to reduce erosion.

Facilitators: Albert Moulder (Natural Resource Conservation Service), Gretchen Warner (NRCS), Jeannette Dahl (Lahontan Valley Environmental alliance), Margie Evans (Clearcreek Watershed Council).

Aquifer in a Cup — Students get the ground water picture and learn about basic ground water principles as they created their own geologic cross section or "earth window." The groundwater flow model demonstrated key concepts about soils and groundwater systems.

Facilitators: Ralph Arbizu (Nevada GOLD Volunteer), Allan Bain (Nevada GOLD Volunteer), Pat Bain (Nevada GOLD Volunteer), Carmen Bell (Nevada GOLD Volunteer), Ken Catlin (Nevada GOLD Volunteer), Irene Frey (Nevada GOLD Volunteer), John Strahan (Nevada GOLD Volunteer), Susan Warren (University of Nevada Cooperative Extension).

Incredible Journey — With the roll of a die, students simulate the movement of water through the water cycle. Students create a water journey bracelet and can follow-up by writing the story of their journey and sharing it in class.

Facilitators: Genie Azad (Carson Water Subconservancy District), Jennifer Hesselgesser (Natural Resource Conservation Service), Craig McKnight (NRCS)

Wetland Metapors — Protection and treatment of wetlands is challenging because of the competition for land and water resources necessary for our growing towns, agricultural needs, and transportation system development. During this activity students learned the importance and benefits of wetlands.

Facilitators: Steve Harriman (Natural Resource Conservation Service), Mat Boni (NRCS), Dan Rabers (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Volunteer), Margie Evans (Clearcreek Watershed Council)

A special THANK YOU to the Lahontan Valley Conservation District who provided nourishment throughout the day!

And thanks to the Lunch Crew!

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