CWN Project WET Grant Application

• Water Efficiency Grant Type: Public Education & Outreach Grant
• Applicant: Colorado Watershed Network
• Project Name: Water Education Program
• Title: Statewide Education Program focused on delivering broad K-12 water eduation
• Date: 12/5/2006
• County: Statewide
• Water Efficiency - Doc Type: Application

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Application for Water Efficiency Grant Program: Colorado Watershed Network

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Applicati~n for Water Ef~ciency Grant Program

1. Name and ~ontact information of public agency seeking grant.

Project Sponsor .
Agency Name: Colorado Watershed Network
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 21935
Denver, CO 80221
Physical Address:
6060 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216

Phone Number: [phone]
Fax Number: [phone]
E-Mail: [e-mail]

Primary Contact Person
Name: Jacob Bomstein
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: J [e-mail]'

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1. Overview and Background:
Colorado needs a funded statewide program fOcused on delivering broad K-12 water education.
The Colorado Watershed Network (CWN) believes that Colorado should be a leader
in water education due to the critical role water plays in our arid headwaters state.
As an experienced nonprofit organization dedicated to "promoting the health of
Colorado's watersheds through nonbiased and community based science and
support," CWN is in an excellent position to help fill the need for a comprehensive
statewide water education program for students from Kindergarten through high
school.
CWN will hire a statewide water education coordinator who will build on CWN's
extensive River Watch teacher network as well as existing relationships with
watershed organizations. The coordinator will develop a statewide water education
program. Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) will be used as a "keystone"
water education curriculum.
The mission of Project WET is to '\:each children, parents, educators, and
communities of the world with water education and in turn foster a respect for water
resources." CWN agrees with Project WET in that sustainable water management among
present and future generations can be encouraged through education. A 1999 suroey of
Project WET educators showed that 95% of teachers felt P1T!ject WET had a positive impact on students'
interest in water issues. CWN will provide the local focus that will transfer this award-winning
program to students in cities and towns throughout Colorado.
Developing an understanding of the role of water in our semi-arid headwaters state is
essential to create informed and responsible citizens and lawmakers. Water is a complex
issue' that can seem overwhelining to someone with no prior knowledge of the' basics of
water resource management. Increasingly communities are being asked to pay for
construction and maintenance of water collection and treatment facilities as well as

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