Texas Community Futures Forum 2004

Work Group Participants: Douglas Alderson, Lee Standley, Chris Blount, Sharon Burrow, Lance Kieth

Section 1. Relevance

Where did this issue surface?
Texas Community Futures Forum

What is the issue/problem?
Water education, conservation and use, water quality
Water is one of the most valuable resources we have. Texas's water usage is increasing because of population and rising per capita water use rates. Water is a huge issue in Texas, so teaching young people proper water conservation techniques should benefit all of us in the future.

Problem size and scope? (How many people does it affect? How wide spread?)
state-wide

Problem severity? (How serious is this issue?) High

Description: Water use, management, conservation and quality

Target Audience? (Who does the problem impact and how many?)
Home owners, public, youth, state wide

What are some general characteristics of the audience this program targets?
Water users, youth learners, future water users/ conservationists

Section 2. Response

Goal: To increase youth’s ability to manage water through knowledge of conservation process, water quality issues, and proper water use

State the outcome objectives.

Client Change	At the end of this program, will...
Knowledge	increase knowledge on... -------conservation practices, -------water quality issues, and -------proper water use.
Skills	develop skills.... ------conservation practices, ------water management and declining water quality and ------issue effecting water quality
Attitude	change their attitudes pertaining to... ------water use, ------water quality and ------water conservation/ management
Behavior Change	adopt.... ------conservation practices and ------water quality around the home, school, and business
New Technology	adopt.... ------equipment such as reduced flow water hoses, ------ faucets, sprinklers, irrigation; techniques- timers
Best Practice	adopt ..... ------conserve water in and around the house

Listed below are some educational design ideas that could be used to address this issue.

Topic (Subject Matter)	Strategy to deliver content	Existing Resource(s)	Contact Person(s)
Determining water quality in and around the house	curriculum enrichment 4-H curriculum	Extension curriculum; give water a hard evaluation; gov’t agencies	CEAs, water specialists, TCE, water districts personnel, Monty Dozier
Future supply of water in Texas	same	" " The Groundwater foundation for - Kids Course	NRCS, Local teachers, university educators
Ground Water Protection	same	" ------------------------------"	TDA, EPA, NRCS
Ground Water Vocabulary	same	"------------------------------ "	Internet/web-resources, NRCS
Water Conservation Practices	same	"------------------------------ "	Underground water district specialists, CEAs, NRCS
Surface Water Management and Protection	same	" ------------------------------"	Texas Parks and Wildlife officials; NRCS

Other Groundwater Resources Located on the Internet:

1. U.S. Geological Survey http://water.usgs.gov/
2. Kansas State Research and Extension Mobile Irrigation Lab http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/mil/
3. The Groundwater Foundation http://www.groundwater.org/
4. North Plains Groundwater District http://www.npwd.org/Ogallala.htm
5. Red River Authority of Texas http://www.rra.dst.tx.us/
6. High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1 http://www.hpwd.com/ogallala/ogallala.asp
7. Texas Section American Water Works Association http://www.tawwa.org/
8. Irrigation Technology Center, a center of the Texas Water Resources Institute, Texas A&M University http://itc.tamu.edu
9. Groundwater http://enterprise.cc.uakron.edu/geology/natscigeo/Lectures/gwater.htm

Section 3. Results

Client Change Level	Sample Questions (There are some example questions that could be used to measure client change.)
Knowledge	Survey, Interview • List the conversation practices you have used in and around the home • Explain water quality as based on the curriculum • Discuss how you can determine water quality • Educate your neighborhood’s water use based on what you have learned through the curriculum • Explain why water is a limited resource • List the components of the water cycle
Skills	Survey Interview • How often do you use the water quality self test in and around your home? • Explain water conservation equipment (i.e. spray nozzles, drip hoses, flow meters, use of times) you have implemented in and around your house. • Explain 2 ways you have conserved water use concerning your personal home
Attitude	• Discuss how your attitude has/hasn't changed concerning water quality after completing the curriculum • How do you feel about people who “waste” water
Behavior Change	• Have you noticed a change in your family water bill because of water conservation in and around your home? • Are you noticing water abuse in your neighborhood? • Have you developed a water management plan for your home?
New Technology	• Do you seek information on water use, quality, and conservation through the internet on a web based program? • Have you installed water saving devices in your house?
Best Practice	• Develop a list of conservation practices you and your family have developed based on your participating in the youth curriculum?

Economic Indicators: Are there economic indicators that can be measured concerning this issue?
YES

Please list item below:
WATER BILL

Internal to Extension Stakeholders	External Stakeholders
Water specialist 4-H Agent Monty Dozier 4-H Adult Volunteers	NRCS TDA EPA Underground water districts Water Authorities Elected officials City/county water management officials Water equipment dealers

Data Summit Results