WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH GRANT PROPOSAL
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH GRANT PROPOSAL
Project ID: 2003PA13B
Title: Water Conservation Training and Public Education
Project Type: Information Transfer
Focus Categories: Water Quantity, Conservation, Drought
Keywords: water conservation, drought, education
Start Date: 03/01/2003
End Date: 02/29/2004
Federal Funds: $13400.00
Matching Funds: $42504.00
Congressional District: 5th of PA
Principal Investigators: Sharpe, William E.; Swistock, Bryan Reed
Abstract: Serious droughts and increasing competition for water have exacerbated water use disputes in Pennsylvania in recent years. Recently passed water use legislation in the state has focused on water conservation as an important tool for future management of the states water supplies. There is presently little specific information or education available to the public on comprehensive, long-term water conservation measures. The Cooperative Extension system provides an attractive vehicle to disseminate water conservation education throughout Pennsylvania. This project would increase public knowledge of water conservation and water use issues through education programs delivered by trained Cooperative Extension Agents with water conservation publications and displays. A two-day in-service program related to water conservation education would be delivered to approximately 25 Extension agents from Pennsylvania. The program will include presentations and field trips on drought, water use, home water conservation, youth water conservation education, landscape water conservation, water re-use, agricultural water management, river basin water management, and western water conservation experiences. Each attendee will receive a binder with written background materials and a CD with PowerPoint presentations. A home water conservation publication and a water conservation tabletop display will be created to support public programs presented by the agents. A web-based evaluation tool will be used to determine the number of citizens that participated in educational programs delivered by agents and the number that initiate water conservation practices.