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000198 TOWN MEETiNG FROM NORwood CONTiNUEd FROM PAGE 2 Pat Page from the u.s. Bureau of Reclamation discussed the new water management and water conservation program that offers financial and technical support to water entities. Pat explained how the position of mediator could be within the guidelines that might receive financial assistance through this program. Mary Fenwick gave a brief history of the Southwestern Water Conservation District and the various programs that they have supported. Stephen Fearn of Silverton gave a history and update on the Animas Stakeholders Gr~up activities which the Southwestern Water ConservatIon District has supported. New brochures describing the program are available by calling the U.S. Geological office, the Southwestern Water Conservation District or Bill Simon, Coordinator for the program. Jasper Welch described the ~ater Inf~rm~tion Pro~ram, its various programs and the mformatIon It has avaIlable for public use. Rita Crumpton from Ute Water Conservancy District from Grand Junction drove over to help Mary Fenwick tell about the children's water festivals and how they might get one started in their area. Norwood is a town similar to many western Colorado towns that are trying to adjust to the increase iJ?- growth and n:anag~ng their limited natural resources wItn water supphes bemg one of their biggest concerns. , TkE WATER USERS RoLE IN WATER EduCATioN Water Education and Information, locally and in the state of Colorado, in the last five years or so, has been limited to attorney reports, engineeriJ?-g reports, board minutes, agency memos and a splattenng of newsletters here and tnere. We, as water users have now moved onto the information highway. In addition to face ~o face communication, we have voice mail, faxes, e-maIl, and internet web sites. People have developed an unquenchable hunger for information. This has prompted the government age!lcies to spend more time an~ money for education and mformatlOn. These efforts mclude the federal, state and local agencies. It has gone from pn;>viding basic water information to developing water curnculum for use in our schools. The question is how far do we as water users need to go? How much commitment should water users have and what should that commitment be? How involved should water conservancy districts, water conservation districts and water companies be in funding water education curriculum? Initially, the Colorado Board of Education must approve a particular curriculum before anyone can t~ach it in the public schools. .f\- ~ater education curnculum needs to meet these state gmde hnes, be cost effective, work for the teacher and be grade appropriate. These questions come up when curriculum funding is discussed: 3 "ISNIT IT OUR REspoNsibiliTY To SEE niAT OUR C~ildREN OR GRANdc~ildREN OR EVEN OUR NEiG~boRIS C~ildREN GROW Up WiT~ UNdERSTANdiNG T~E VAluE OF OUR MOST PREcious NATURAl RESOURCE. . . WATER. II , MARY FENwick V Will The Teachers Use It? V How much does it cost? And can we locate and secure the funding sources? V What is the benefit to the students? V What is the cost/benefit ratio for the district? Teachers over the course of their teaching years, usually try out many different types of curriculum. Teaching priorities for curriculum change from year to year. As our ways of receiving and sending information has changed, the way we educate our children has changed as well. Much of the basic water information or data does not change just the form in which they choose to deliver it. With the critical nature of water issues we face on a daily basis, hasn't water information and education become our responsibility? Isn't it also our responsibility, as water users, to keep abreast of education in our schools? ISJ?-'t it our responsibility to see that our children or grandchIldren or even our neighbor's children grow up with an understanding of the value of our most precious natural resource ...... ~ter. , "A VisiON FOR WATER" BROCHURE AVAilAblE FROM niE SOUTHWESTERN WATER CONSERVATioN DiSTRiCT. LEARN AbOUT THE WATER IN YOUR AREA, THE RESERvoiRS ANd THE WATER You DRiNk!