Discover a Watershed Announces Commencement of Colorado River Curriculum Project FOR RELEASE: On receipt DATE: September 2002 CONTACT: Discover a Watershed (970) 375-9047 International Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) has announced the beginning of their second bi-national watershed education initiative called Discover a Watershed: the Colorado Project. Seventy-five educators and resource managers from the U.S. and Mexico will take part in a writing workshop in early 2003. Following the workshop, a river expedition of Project WET coordinators and college students will journey from the headwaters to the mouth of the Colorado River. Both events will contribute to the publication of a 300-page reference and activity guide. There will be English and Spanish editions available for K-12 educators, nonformal educators, organizations, communities, and anyone interested in knowing more about this vital natural resource, its influences and issues. "A farmer in Baja California; a humpback chub in the waters of the Little Colorado; a river guide on the Green; a high school student in Los Angeles; an engineer at Imperial Dam; a cottonwood tree on the banks of the Animas; a doctor in Tuba City. . . all are diverse, but connected by their common watershed," explains the project co-coordinator, Elisabeth Howe. "The complexity of the basin increases as populations increase, and it becomes ever more important to provide educational opportunities that expand our awareness and help us better understand our connections and responsibilities to all other users in our watershed." The coordinators will lead 10-12 college juniors and seniors from the U.S. and Mexico through the basin in 2003 to do research and establish a thorough understanding of the watershed. Participants will receive college credit and a living stipend plus travel expenses. Successful candidates will possess good writing skills and have expressed interest in education and water resource issues. Selection will begin in fall 2002. The Discover a Watershed Series is a broad watershed education program of International Project WET designed for anyone interested in learning about major rivers and watersheds of North America. Each project in the series contains three core components created specifically for an individual watershed: publications, education events, and support services. The series published Discover a Watershed: The Everglades Educators Guide in 1996 and Discover a Watershed: Rio Grande/Rio Bravo Educators Guide in 2001 (English, Spanish 2002). Works in progress include The Columbia, The Missouri, and an overview book, The Watershed Manager Educators Guide. The Educators Guide will include a detailed reference section and a set of high-quality learning activities that are teacher-tested and tailored to the Colorado River Basin. Topics include hydrology, natural and human history, plant and animal communities, culture, economics, water management systems, and future scenarios. Non-biased and scientifically accurate information will be accompanied by maps, illustrations, and numerous photographs. A colorfully illustrated, 16-page KIDS (Kids in Discovery Series) activity booklet for 8-12-year-olds is also being written and will be available in the fall of 2002. KIDS: Discover the Colorado River is filled with interactive, creative, and scientific games and lessons that increase awareness and understanding of the myriad peoples, places, and issues in the Colorado Basin. For more information about getting involved or ordering publications, please contact the Discover the Colorado Project coordinators' office in Durango, Colorado at (970) 375-9047, or e-mail discoverawatershed@montana.edu.