Education, Visitors, and Awards

Wetlands Water Education Facility General Facts:

• "Official" Open House/Grand Opening - October 8, 1999

• School Use - the building was organized and configured by EMWD’s Community Involvement Department education specialist. Approximately 1,200 square feet.

• School groups started using the building October 13, 1999

• Educational Materials, purchased and donated

• Hands-on Education Program, Tested in Grades 3-6

• Expect about 30 groups of school students each school year

Other Uses:

• Meeting Room for non-school visitors

• Researchers use the building for sample preparation, rest, lunch, etc.

Visitors

Tour Groups and Academic & Civic Use of the Wetlands Facilities

• International Visitors from 34 Countries have toured the site:

• Native American Groups:

• Hopi Tribe (Kykotsmovi, AZ)

• Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians (Palm Springs, CA)

• Augustine Band of Mission Indians (Coachella, CA)

• Ramona Band of Cahuilla Indians (Anza, CA)

• Torres-Martinez Band (Thermal, CA)

• Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians (Coachella, CA)

• Geography Summer Commuter Institute Tour, sponsored by National Geographic Society and Cal. State University, San Bernardino.

• Various water purveyors and wastewater treatment agencies investigating possible wetlands projects, as well as other groups, have visited the H/SJ site and view it as a model for future projects.

• UC Riverside and UCR Extension - numerous field trips for various classes and departments; classroom presentations at UCR also provided by staff.

• Mt. San Jacinto Community College used the wetlands and an outdoor ecology laboratory and conducted classes on site.

• Boy Scouts of America - site for Eagle Scout Community Service Efforts.

• Southern California. Science Fair projects, including a statewide winner.

• Retired Senior and Volunteer Program (RSVP).

• Tour and use of site for meeting, League of Women Voters, Environmental Action Committee.

Project Awards

• 2001 - ACWA - Association of California Water Agencies
  Clair A. Hill Award for Excellence

• 1994 - ACWA - Association of California Water Agencies
  Theodore Roosevelt Environmental Award for Excellence in Natural Resources

• 1994 - AMSA - Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies Research and Technology Award

• 1993 Inland Empire West Resource Conservation District Conservation Partnership Award, Water Quality

• 1992 - California Local Government Commission Award for Innovation in Water Conservation, Reclamation, and Management

For More Information....

• EMWD Insights -- Wetlands information
  (Adobe Acrobat format, 218K)
  This file provides a diagram of the Wetlands along with other information.