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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Background <br /> <br />The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Executive Director and the CWCB Director <br />may direct and manage natural resources and environmental educational programs (24-33-109 <br />C.R,S,), These education programs must include: <br /> <br />. scientific concepts underlying natural resource and environmental management; <br />· the history of natural resource development and management in Colorado; <br />. public policy concepts like private property rights; <br />. benefits and costs associated with natural resource management decisions and information about <br />the role agriculture, mining, and timbering, play in natural resources management. <br /> <br />In November 1999 CWCB members expressed anxiety about the lack of a specific water <br />education program and directed its staff to identify whether curriculum existed that could be utilized <br />by teachers if it were appropriately distributed, In March 2000 the CWCB agreed to support a <br />$115,000 water education initiative and funding was included in the 2000 Water Project <br />Authorization Bill (HE 00-1419): <br /> <br />SECTION 24, Water education program - appropriation. (1) The Colorado water conservation <br />board is hereby authorized to participate in a water education program for K-12 students and <br />citizens throughout Colorado. The purposes of the program are to develop and integrate a <br />Colorado water education curriculum into existing education programs; identify mechanisms to <br />distribute a water education curriculum to effectively supplement or coordinate with other private <br />and public water education programs; and convert the curriculum to compact disc format for <br />statewide distribution, lnfunherance of this program, the Colorado water conservation board <br />may develop its own curriculum and distribution systems or use existing curriculum reviewed and <br />approved by educators and water user groups and existing distribution networks, <br /> <br />After receiving legislative approval, developing a work plan and seeking the support of <br />constituents, the CWCB shall negotiate a contract with the Learning to be WaterWise program to <br />implement the program under the following conditions: <br /> <br />. Cost sharing shall be on a 50 percent state 50 percent local cost shared basis; <br />. Additional educational materials on CD shall be distributed; <br />. Performance shall be evaluated; and, <br />· The contractor shall report to the CWCB at regular Board meetings, <br /> <br />Water Education Initiative Implementation Plan <br /> <br />Target Audience: 5th Graders. Teachers. Parents <br /> <br />Objectives: <br /> <br />. Meets Colorado educational content standards, <br />. Increases the involvement of K-12 teachers with water education_ <br />. Balanced and effectively increases water knowledge, <br />. Enhances legislative support for water education. <br />. Builds support arnong local water agencies for water education, <br />