13060 Highway 9
Boulder Creek, CA 95006
831-338-2153

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EDUCATION PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMISSION

On June 5, 2003 the Board of Directors of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District adopted Ordinance No. 100 which established an Education Program Advisory Commission. The duties of the Commissioners are to advise the Board of Director's of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District regarding the selection and allocation of education program grants and/or scholarships, to adopt such rules and regulations for their own guidance as deemed necessary, and to perform such other duties as may be directed by the Board of Directors. The Education Program Advisory Commission consists of five (5) members. Each member is a registered voter of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District and maintains residency within the geographic boundaries of the San Lorenzo Valley Water District.

The appointed Education Program Advisory Commissioners are as follows:

Dir. Vierra appointed Margaret Bruce.
Dir. McPherson appointed Henry Helbush.
Dir. Nelson appointed James Gilkey.
Dir. Rapoza appointed Peggy Focha-Smart.
Dir. Prather appointed Donna Ziel.

Appointments to the Education Program Advisory Commission shall be for the same term as the appointing member of the Board of Directors.

All meetings of the Education Program Advisory Commission will be open to the public and noticed in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act.

District Education Program Grants 2004 – 2010

Each year since 2004, the District has budgeted $17,500 to fund education grants that advance the mission of the District's education program. In 2010, because of the number of high-quality grant proposals, the District awarded more funds than the amount budgeted. After careful review and evaluation by the Education Advisory Commission, and approval by the full board, the following grants have been awarded:

Year
Project Title
Description
Grantee
Award amount
2010
"Environmental Monitoring Course" This course gives 10-15 SLV High School juniors & seniors an opportunity to apply their skills in science, math, English & aquaculture, working on a one-year long field project, with a professional mentor in the field. Projects are displayed at SCC Science Fair, Monterey Bay Sanctuary Symposium and Environmental Monitoring Symposium. Jane Orbuch, science teacher, San Lorenzo Valley High School, Watershed Academy
3,000.00
  "Wetland Pond Monitoring" Part of the SLV High School's watershed academy, this project monitors the wetland pond near the school's aquaculture facility. The pond was developed to successfully treat campus sewage. Water will be tested for pollutants such as nitrates, and for pH and temperature. Terry Umstead, aquaculture teacher, San Lorenzo Valley High School, Watershed Academy
2,500.00
  "San Lorenzo River Water Temperature Record Project" Project to analyze and format stream temperature data collected in 2005-2006 by SLVHS students under direction of fisheries biologist Don Alley, research additional data collected by City of Santa Cruz; prepare sampling maps; report to be written and sent to State Water Quality Control Board. Lompico Watershed Conservancy
2,500.00
  "Riparian Corridor Wood Survey within SLVWD Lands along Zayante Creek, 2010" Fisheries biologist to mentor one or more SLV High School Watershed Academy students in a project to survey large wood on ~ 1 mile of Zayante Creek riparian corridor adjoining District-owned land. Results will be compared to other surveys on other creeks that used the same methods. Recommendations to be made to improve fish habitat conditions. Article to be written for publication in local papers to emphasize to public the importance of retaining instream wood D.W. Alley & Associates
3,000.00
  "Preserve and Protect: Helping the Wildlife of Our Watershed" Local children to learn about the importance of a clean, healthy river through the day camp experience. Campers will including research causes of pollution in Fall Creek using GPS units to track animals, perform water quality testing, pick up trash, and create journals & posters to show what they learned. Leader will provide eight 75-90 minute class visits. HOWL Science Program 501 c(3)
2,974.00
  "Watershed Nature Walks" This project organizes a series of six Watershed Nature Walks, free & open to the public, accessible to all ages and physical abilities. Well known guides, experts in their fields, will lead the 2+ hour walks, which will occur regularly on Saturday mornings. Grantee to write six promotional pieces, prior to each walk, in the Press Banner. Carol Carson
2,300.00
  "Walking in the Watershed: Kindergarten - 5th Grade Field Trips & Cross-Curricular Watershed" Grantee to lead six watershed field trips to Fall Creek State Park, one trip for each grade level K-5 at SLV Elementary. Instruction to include 6 hours of lessons & experiential learning per class, serving a total of 150-175 students in fall 2010. Project aims to strengthen the connection between child and watershed through discovery-based and teacher-directed curricula. Kristen M. VanKlootwyk, certificated teacher
2,496.00
  "6th Grade Labs and Exploring Watersheds" Project to help turn middle school classrooms into science laboratories by funding purchase of lab equipment used in the two-year- old Exploring Watershed Program for sixth grade students. Promotes classroom and field research to increase student knowledge of conserving, improving, protecting, and sustaining watershed functions and values. San Lorenzo Valley Middle School
2,481.00
2010 Total..................................................................................................................................................
$21,251.00
Year
Project Title
Description
Grantee
Award amount
2009
"Bean Zayante Creek Initiative Phase I"
Final Project Report
Survey/mapping by 6th/7th grade students of woody material in stream corridors of Bean & Zayante Creeks on property owned by Mount Hermon Association. Mount Hermon Outdoor Science School
2,300.00

  "Benthic macroinvertebrates in the upper reaches of the San Lorenzo Valley watershed: Establishing baseline data and educating citizens"

UCSC researcher & team of undergraduate interns to assess abundance & diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates in 3 SLVWD diversion streams; establish baseline data & share information regarding water quality with local citizens. Dr. Katie Monsen
3,000.00
  "Watershed Nature Walks"

Series of 6 watershed nature walks free & open to the public, guided by local experts in local natural and historical resources. Valley Women's Club
2,300.00
  "Project Protect It: Rivers of the Redwoods"

5 scholarships to SLV low-income families for outdoor summer science camp program; campers to test water, study water cycle & water conservation techniques, map watersheds & plants; Clean-Up Day to engage families & friends in trash pick-up & removal of invasive plants.

HOWL Science Program, Inc.
2,985.00

2009 Total....................................................................................................................................................
$10,585.00
Year
Project Title
Description
Grantee
Award amount
2008
"Distribution & Nesting Ecology of Yellow Warblers (Dendroica petechia) on the Central Coast of California"

Study of distribution and nesting ecology of yellow warblers in the region, including the SLR watershed, to help conserve the species

Matthew Strusis-Timmer, graduate student, SJSU

1,460.00

  "Water quality study of feeder streams leading into the San Lorenzo River"

Experienced kayaker to visit, document & test various tributaries of the SLR, not normally accessible, for water quality.

Carl Reuter, kayaker

1,000.00
  "Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park Anadromous Fish Education Program"

Create an anadromous fish exhibit & school curriculum to educate a wide spectrum of park visitors; hands-on curriculum specific to the SLR focused on ecosystem connections & demo of practical preservation methods

Mountain Parks Foundation

2,401.00
  "Smart Gardening Faire"

3rd annual fair in Skypark, public education promoting gardening & landscaping practices to conserve water thru use of native plants & water-saving technologies

Monterey Bay Master Gardeners

1,400.00
  "Healthy Salmonid Habitats"

Hands-on project for 4th & 5th graders to learn about life-cycle & habitat requirements of steelhead, and to assess health of watershed for salmon thru water quality testing.

Boulder Creek Elementary

2,500.00

2008 Total.................................................................................................................................................................
$8,761.00
Year Project Title Description Grantee
Award amount
2007 "Water Quality Testing for Watershed Studies" Teach concepts of chemistry, lab techniques, through water quality testing SLV High School; Watershed Academy
1,718.00
  "Smart Gardening Faire" Public educational event; focus on landscaping to conserve water, native plants; reduce pesticide/herbicide use Monterey Bay Master Gardeners, Inc.
2,500.00
  "Exploring Watersheds" 6th grade educational program to promote watershed knowledge; classroom & field research SLV Middle School
2,500.00
  "Wireless Weather Station for Watershed Studies" Monitor real-time weather data collection from the classroom to teach natural science & environmental concepts SLV High School Watershed Academy
2,500.00
  "Runoff to the River" Public informational brochure on non-point source pollution Valley Women's Club
2,500.00
2007 Total.................................................................................................................................................................
$11,718
Year Project Title Description Grantee
Award amount
2006 "Ruggedized Laptop for Watershed Studies" Purchase of specialized computer hardware for outdoor use in field studies

SLV High School Watershed Academy
2,500.00
  "Creek Exploration Curriculum Enhancement for Improved Watershed Health"

Development of the school's watershed and creek curriculum, as well as the purchase of books, water quality sampling materials, and work gloves

Mt. Hermon Outdoor Science School

1,898.00
  "Design and Install Interpretive Panels Describing the Santa Cruz Sandhills"

Design, create, and install two interpretive panels, describing the uniqueness, fragility, and rarity of the Santa Cruz Sandhills.

Sandhills Alliance for Natural Diversity

2,440.00
  "Watershed Cruzin' Teachers Workshops for San Lorenzo Valley and Scotts Valley Teachers in Grades 4-8"

Series of 2-hr. teacher workshops to introduce watersheds of Santa Cruz County, and how to use Watershed Cruzin' guide and CD-ROM

Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District
2,500.00
  "Boulder Creek Elementary Loves the San Lorenzo River"

Purchased four computers and used multi-media software to create reports of outdoor watershed research.

Boulder Creek Elementary

2,000.00

  "Smart Gardening Faire"

Public outreach event to educate area residents about water-wise gardening and drought resistant plants

Monterey Bay Master Gardeners

970.00
  "The Outdoors as a Contest for Cultivating Little Learners in the San Lorenzo Valley Watershed"

Implementation of watershed curriculum for pre-school children Little People's School of Boulder Creek

2,492.50
2006 Total.................................................................................................................................................................
$14,800.50
Year Project Title Description Grantee
Award amount
2005 "Invasive Plant Education and Eradication implementation in the San Lorenzo River Watershed" Invasive plant eradication and community education about invasive species and how to control them

Santa Cruz County Resource Conservation District
2,475.66

  "Sea Odyssey Watershed Model" Enhance watershed education through construction of a new watershed model

O'Neill Surf

788.00

  "Monitoring the Wetlands-Sewage Ponds at San Lorenzo Valley High School" Instruction of students in monitoring water quality of SLV High School's leach fields

SLV High School

2,256.00

  "An Introduction to Riparian Hydrology & vegetation Sampling in the Rare and Unique Plant Communities of the San Lorenzo Valley Watershed" Three educational slideshows for the SLV High School Watershed Academy focusing on riparian plant communities & their relation to watershed hydrology

SLV High School Watershed Academy

2,500.00

  "Educational Labels for Plants in the Watershed Environment" Increase public awareness of native plants by making and placing interpretive signs in Linear Park's Nature Trail

Monterey Bay Master Gardeners

2,500.00

 

"Healthy Rivers, Happy Fish"

One day conference with invited speakers expert in the areas of fisheries, hydrology, watershed management Citizens for Responsible Forest Management

2,180.00
2005 Total................................................................................................................................................................ $12,699.66
Year Project Title Description Grantee
Award amount
2004 "Long Term Monitoring of San Lorenzo Watershed Amphibian Population with San Lorenzo Valley High School's Watershed Academy"

Catalog abundance of amphibians; identify monitoring sites in the SLR watershed and select survey methods for monitoring amphibians

SLV High School Watershed Academy

2,496.13

  "San Lorenzo River Watershed Educational Display"

Construction of environmental kiosk overlooking the SL River

YMCA Camp Campbell

2,500.00

  "Protecting City Creeks and the San Lorenzo Watershed"

Printing of 4,500 color brochures emphasizing watershed protection; brochures mailed with Scotts Valley & SLV Water District bills

City of Scotts Valley

1,563.84

2004 Total................................................................................................................................................................
$6,559.97