05 ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 9/18/2007
• Description: OWCDP Section - Colorado Foundation for Water Education Activity Update
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Final Report
Colorado 'Vater Education Activities for 2001

Introduction and Background

The Colorado legislature provided funds to the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB)
for water education for 2000-2001. This report will focus on accomplishments for 2001 and
recommendations for future water education work. Activities and products supported by CWCB
funds included several major efforts which encompass initial coordination of water education
work, ongoing communication with water education providers, oversight and evaluation of two
pilot water education programs in classrooms, presentations of water education activities at
conferences, and planning for the formation of a Colorado water education foundation. An
interim part time water education coordinator (referred to as Coordinator throughout this report)
was hired to oversee Colorado Water Conservation Board funded water education activities, set
up a communication network, provide opportunities for water education providers to meet, and
work with an outside evaluator to study the impact of the two pilot classroom projects. 'The
Coordinator worked closely with consultants at the Colorado Department of Education involved
with water and science education. The outside evaluator has submitted a separate report.

Part One: Accomplishments for 2001

Colorado Water Education Plan

Development of a long-term water education plan was started prior to 2001 with the leadership
of Tom Cech and Sara Duncan. During 2001, the plan was revised with input from many water
education providers and the Coordinator. In addition a strategic plan was started and
incorporated into the planning documents for a Colorado water education foundation. The vision
and mission statements were also revised and incorporated into the education foundation
documents. A meeting on March 25 began the revision process. Input for the vision, mission and
a long-term water education plan was obtained during two meetings for water education
providers held on April 30 and October 16 and via email communication. The planning process
is not complete since the [ormation of a water education foundation is still in progress. An
additional $40,000 was allocated to continue the planning work guided by Rita Crumpton who
was hired to coordinate this effort. A steering committee for a water education foundation has
held meetings on the following dates: May 25 in Denver, September 4 in Frisco, and October 23
in Frisco. The follo~ing ~ople have been i~v9.lved in the ~pning process: To~ Cech, Chris
Treese, D'W-,~cAuhffe, R1ta Crum~,- -, ms...-~~e11og~Dave NICkum, Brian
Werner, Mi'~o-lt;-Sara Duncan, udith Dale M~y~ and Bette Blinde. At the meeting on
October 16 in Denver twenty-five water education providers came together to provide input for a
future \vater education foundation. See Attachment A for a summary of their input. These
suggestions were carefully incorporated into the steering committee work on October 23 in
Frisco. Tom Cech, Rita Crumpton, Dan McAuliffe, Dave Nickum and Reagan Waskam also
visited California in early December to study how the California Water Education Foundation
was set up and how it functions. Please refer to the current draft documents for a future
Colorado water education foundation. These documents are available from Dan McAuliffe.

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