Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2017WA430B

Information Transfer

Institute: Washington
Year Established: 2017 Start Date: 2017-03-01 End Date: 2018-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $11,689 Total Non-Federal Funds: $13,283

Principal Investigators: Jonathan Yoder, Jennifer Adam

Abstract: Washington State faces a complex array of surface and ground water issues in terms of both water quantity and quality. Water availability during drought in certain areas of the State has led in 1995 to the most severe agricultural water curtailments in a decade, and drought frequency and intensity is expected to increase as the effects of regional climate change and population growth continue to alter the supply and demand patterns. Recent legal rulings in the state have forced a more careful accounting of the effects of groundwater users on surface water flows. Stormwater pollution problems on the west side of the state and excess nutrient loads in surface and groundwater in the eastern part of the state are vexing management problems. The three-part mission of the State of Washington Water Research Center (WRC) calls for effective transmission of information to stakeholders about its research and other pressing water-related issues in the state. The primary objective of this information transfer project is to promote and sustain outreach and education activities, information transfer, and exchanges of knowledge related to regional water quantity and quality issues through a) personal communications and brochures; b) organization and participation in conferences, workshops, and seminars; c) participation in state review and advisory boards; d) developing and distributing analysis and data for stakeholders, including stakeholder engagement components for all research projects; e) providing faculty support for conference presentations and attendance; and f) internet-based targeted media dissemination. These activities will be conducted throughout the year with varying degrees of intensity depending in part on the opportunities that arise. Participating in the UCOWR/NIWR summer conference is also planned.