WATERS Collaborative
Watershed Academics to Enhance Regional Sustainability
Sonoma State University / Sonoma County Water Agency
WATERS Meeting 1-24-2014, 2:00-3:00 pm, Schulz 1121
1. Introductions
2. 3-Year Contract: Scope and Budget overview
Claudia Luke, WATERS Coordinator, reviewed the scope and budget for the new 3-year contract
between SCWA and SSU:
•
WATERS Scope of Work
Task 1: Maintain and update the WATERS website to track all projects and activities
Deliverables: updated website
Task 2: Expand watershed research activities (across disciplines, with more partners)
Deliverables: project meetings, research project descriptions and results, Spring SSU
Science Symposium
Task 3: Perform outreach on campus and in community
Deliverables: create logo and poster, engage with sustainability executive
committee, news releases and articles, posters and powerpoints on website
Task 4: Expand partnerships with other organizations
Deliverables: list of collaborating organizations and activities
•
WATERS Annual Budget
We reviewed the following annual budget from the 3-year contract and additionally
discussed eligible activities for course support. In particular, we discussed whether the
“course supply” funds should be allowed to be used for student salary. Faculty felt that
course support should be loosely interpreted and student salary or consultant fees should
be allowed as long as the expenditure meets the goals of the project to engage student in
research activities.
Salary and Benefits
Coordinator
27,094
Assistant
11,705
Symposium and Supplies
Symposium
3,000
Branding and Cross-Disciplinary Projects
$3,685
Course Supplies
$9,000
Subtotal
$54,483
Indirect 25%
$13,621
GRAND TOTAL
$68,104
3. 2013-14 Projects
•
The Committee reviewed Fall projects that were funded with pre-award monies:
o
Mike Cohen (Biology Department) - Development of microbial specific genetic
markers to track sources of fecal pollution. Award: $2,500. Items/Supplies:
consulting fees, laboratory supplies. Description: High levels of coliform bacteria and
nutrients have been found in surface waters of the Laguna de Santa Rosa
watershed. The City of Santa Rosa (contact: Caden Hare, Environmental Compliance
Inspector) is interested in determining the sources of fecal pollution. We are
proposing to develop techniques using microbial specific genetic markers to identify
the fecal pollution sources (i.e., poultry, dairy, human). The techniques will be
developed by working with consultants knowledgeable in polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) techniques who will work with student and Dipali Vasadia on the initial
groundwork.
o
Michelle Goman (Geography Department) - Long-term monitoring of erosional
processes in the upper Copeland Creek watershed. Award: $1,100. Items/Supplies:
autolevel, extra long stadia rods, bank erosion pins. Description: Due to the erosive
geology in the headwaters of Copeland Creek, the tiny watershed (only 5.1 square
miles) produces an astonishing amount of sediment. We are establishing and
monitoring erosional processes of ephemeral and perennial creeks in at the Fairfield
Osborn Preserve. We established a new stream channel profile at the ephemeral
creek near the Madrone trail and continue to monitor the Copeland creek profile
established last year. In addition, we will placed stream bank erosion pins at both
sites that we will use to monitor soil loss over time. existing Fall funded projects:
Michelle Goman
•
Spring Projects in Development (Appendix 1 attached) were presented and discussed. Two
projects were highlighted. The SSU Preserves Land Management Internship Training
program is a 5-week training course followed by hands-on land management activities
where students work with community partners. This year the Preserves are expanding the
program to include watershed training and projects. The Copeland Creek Geo-Database
Project is undertaken by a student of Jeff Baldwin’s (Geography), who will developing a geo
database that shows the location of data collected in the Copeland Creek watershed and
elsewhere as part of the WATERS Collaborative. Data from other sources will also be
included. The project is a response to requests from WATERS participants to have more
intuitive access to existing data.
•
SSU Science Symposium: The date and location for the SSU Science Symposium (co-hosted
by WATERS and the School of Science & Technology) will be Wednesday April 30, 2014 at
the new SSU Student Center.
•
Course Development Projects – With a goal of infusing sustainability into the SSU curriculum
on a sustainable basis, the Sustainability Executive Committee (SEC) and WATERS
Collaborative are jointly allocating $6,000 (four awards for $1,500 each) for faculty and
instructors interested in developing innovative curriculum on sustainability topics. Two of
the four awards will go to courses related to watershed or water-related issues. Spring
proposals will be evaluated on ability to incorporate sustainability topics into the SSU
curriculum, potential permanency, inquiry-based learning, and cross-disciplinary
approaches.
4. Expand Partnerships
The committee discussed the best way to expand projects with partnership organizations and
target SCWA interests. One model discussed was to bring speakers to SSU to discuss watershedrelated topics that topical. This may be of special interest during this drought year. The RCDs
may have some funding to help with this. This would highlight WATER Collaborative and create
opportunities for audience interaction.
5. Campus and Community Outreach The committee discussed three topics:
•
What is WATERS role in highlighting other campus water-related initiatives? We discussed
ideas about how WATERS could highlight all water and watershed related activities (not just
WATERS) on campus. One idea was to create a webpage (Water @ SSU) and approach other
projects to see if they want to be listed. Attendees also suggested that WATERS should
create a clear statement about its origins (how it grew out of all academic and SCWA
activities, origin and birth of collaboration) and create a byline that explains WATERS so that
there is no ambiguity about its identity.
•
Merith Weisman at the Center for Community Engagement has offered her services to
launch a social media campaign about water research and drought. She will need key pieces
of information about WATERS projects and events.
Branding and SSU Sustainability Executive Committee. WATERS is interested in developing
branding that is compatible with the SEC. A common look/approach could leverage efforts
of both groups.
•
Appendix 1: WATERS Projects FY 2013-14 (as of December 2013)
Class Projects (Service-Learning)
1. Insect biodiversity monitoring at City of Santa Rosa riparian restoration project sites
Faculty Lead: Fran Keller, Biology
Partner: City of Santa Rosa Environmental Specialist Sean McNeil
Students: Spring Entomology course, interns
2. Long-term monitoring of erosional processes in ephemeral creeks of the Copeland Creek
watershed.
Faculty Lead: Michelle Goman, Geography
Students: Geomorphology course
3. Exercise metabolism of watershed stewardship and restoration activities
Faculty Lead: Bulent Sokmen, Kinesiology
Partners: SSU Preserves Land Management Internship Program, others..?
Students: KIN 101 Physical Activity
4. Copeland Creek water quality monitoring project
Faculty Lead: Mark Perri, Chemistry
Students: CHEM 125B Honors Chemistry, summer internships
Faculty Lead: Mike Cohen, Biology
Students: BIO 338 Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology
Faculty Lead: Karina Nielsen, School of Science and Technology
Staff: Claudia Luke, SSU Preserves
Students: SCI 120 A Watershed Year
Faculty Lead: Debora Hammond, Hutchins School of Liberal Studies
Students: LIBS 320B Water Seminar, LIBS 202 Challenge and Response in the Modern
World
5. Dendrochronology analysis in PG&E Right-of-Way
Faculty Lead: Michelle Goman, Geography
Partner: SSU Preserves
Students: Geomorphology course
Matching funds: $1,000 Norwick Memorial Fund (Goman)
6. Establishment of hydrological and meteorological sensor network in the Copeland Creek
Watershed (Fairfield Osborn Preserve and campus).
Faculty Lead: Farid Farahmand, Engineering Science
Partner: SSU Preserves
Students: Engineering Classes and Student Assistants
Matching funds: $2,000 Norwick Memorial Fund (Farahmand); $10,000 Water
sensor development grant (Farahmand); $14,000 SSU Instructionally Related Activity
funding (Farahmand/Luke)
Internships/Independent Projects
7. Development of microbial specific genetic markers to track sources of fecal pollution.
Faculty Lead: Mike Cohen, Biology
Partner: City of Santa Rosa Environmental Compliance Inspector Caden Hare
Student: internship
8. Student internship training in watershed management techniques (SSU Preserves Land
Management Internship). Five week training and on-site project work with community
partners.
Staff Lead: Suzanne DeCoursey, SSU Preserves
Partners: Occidental Arts and Ecology Center, UC Davis Bodega Marine Reserve,
Goldridge Resource Conservation District, Pepperwood Preserve, Occidental Arts
and Ecology Center
Students: internships and special studies
9. Development of a Google-based watershed data locator for Copeland Creek watershed
Faculty Lead: Jeff Baldwin, Geography
Staff: Claudia Luke, SSU Preserves
Students: Jason Manley, Geography internship
10. Video Project: an introduction to the Copeland Creek watershed
Staff Lead: Suzanne DeCoursey, SSU Preserves
Students: Brennan Chin, internship
Master’s Theses
11. Herpetological response to moisture gradients and climate change
Faculty Lead: Derek Girman, Biology
Partner: community and K-12 citizen science project
Students: Master’s Student Julie Byrnes
Matching funds: $1,000 Norwick Memorial Fund (Girman)
Lectures/Events
12. Marin Carbon Project lecture (as part of potential to develop a project with the Sonoma
Biochar Initiative)
Faculty Lead: Daniel Soto, ENSP
Partners: Susan Haydon, Sonoma County Water Agency
Students: ENSP 430 Energy Forum and community members
13. SSU Science/WATERS Symposium, Wednesday April 30
Faculty Leads: Brigitte Lahme, Computer Science
Staff Leads: Claudia Luke, SSU Preserves; Lynn Stauffer, SST Dean
Students: cross campus
FY 2013-14 Matching Funds to Date ($87,000)





IRA Instructionally-Related Activity Funding (Farahmand/Luke) - $14,000
Water sensor development grant (Farahmand) - $10,000
PG&E lidar data project (Eric Brown/Claudia Luke) - $25,000
Steven Norwick Memorial Fund - $4,000
GMC Academic Integration Fund (Paul Draper) - $10,000