Teachers receive groundwater training, equipment

Third year of EPA funded groundwater workshops held in Dodgeville and Waukesha

MADISON -- Teachers from twenty-eight Wisconsin schools received intensive training on our state’s groundwater supplies at three workshops held last month. Thanks to efforts of federal, state and university agencies, several thousand students will learn about groundwater and bring groundwater information from the classroom to their homes as a result of this year’s workshops.

“This educational program is an important one to safeguard our groundwater," says David Lindorff, Wellhead Protection Program Coordinator with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). "Teaching students -- and their parents -- to protect groundwater in their own communities can lead to real improvements in local groundwater quality."

Groundwater supplies 70 percent of Wisconsin’s population with drinking water and is used for a variety of commercial, industrial and agricultural purposes. It also supplies fresh water to Wisconsin’s streams, lakes and wetlands.

Schools chosen to participate in this year’s workshops were awarded a physical model that demonstrates groundwater movement. At first glance, the model resembles an ant farm, but it features working wells, a lake, and its own leaking landfill.

To be eligible to attend a workshop and receive a model, at least two teachers from each school were required to work as a team to develop a written application describing how they would use the model in their classrooms, and how students would bring the information back to their families. The teachers selected through the competitive program received the one-day training session, a groundwater flow model and instructions on using it, classroom exercises designed to meet state teaching standards, and reimbursement for substitute teachers while the teachers were away from their class. Eight models were given away at each workshop. Each school will have to report back this spring on the success of their groundwater education efforts.

Funding for the groundwater teacher training workshops comes from a $120,000 wellhead protection “setaside” grant given to the DNR by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. “We (DNR) first received the grant in 1998, and the money has been used for a variety of information and education purposes to promote wellhead protection,” continues Lindorff. “This is the third year we have used the setaside grant money for teacher workshops. In that time, we have given away 73 models. Teachers are very happy to get a groundwater model for their school.” Because each model costs $350, many schools cannot afford to buy one.

DNR’s wellhead protection program seeks to prevent contamination of public water supply wells. It is designed to assist communities develop land use plans that protect their water supply wells by managing the land area that contributes water to the wells, an area known as the "wellhead protection area."

The groundwater model each participating school received offers a "slice" or cross-section representation of the earth, allowing students to "see" groundwater, Lindorff says. Teachers and students can use the model to demonstrate a variety of groundwater flow principles, including water table levels, how groundwater supplies are replenished, how groundwater flows through different geologic materials, and how contaminants from a variety of sources can leak into groundwater. The model also contains "wells" which can be used to show the effects of pumping on the groundwater flow system.

"The lessons learned can be incorporated into various subject areas including math, social studies, language arts, home economics and art," Lindorff says. "The training helps teachers understand how to use the model in a number of ways."

DNR works with the Central Wisconsin Groundwater Center, the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey and other agencies and organizations to develop, update and implement the teacher training program each year.

Schools awarded groundwater models and training are listed below by workshop date and geographic location. They are:

January 30^th at Bethel Horizons

River Ridge School District in Patch Grove – Wayne Tredinnick and Kerry McCabe

Iowa-Grant Elementary School in Livingston – Tim Donovan and Randy Rogers

Belmont Community School – Kathleen Riechers and Rodney Robson

Pecatonica Area High School in Blanchardville – Mark Sturnick and Mary Sutter

The Learning Cabin/Lynch Home School in Waupun and Beaver Dam – Rita Lynch and Tyra Walters

Tri-school consortium in Cuba City, Hazel Green and Benton – Terry Harris and Dan Kopp

Highland High School – Mary Kay McCarthy and Shannon Straka

North Crawford Schools in Soldiers Grove – Lauren King and Barbara Duke

February 4^th in Waukesha

Brookfield Central High School – Jeff Gryzwa and Larry Hipp

West Allis Central High School – Patrick Gain and Dale Lindenberg

Park High School in Racine – Margaret Oliver and Wendy Saber

El Puente High School in Milwaukee – Joella Zocher and Lynn Klipstine

Pewaukee High School – Jana Rhode and Cheryl Nies

Mayville Middle School – Cam Kurer and Katherine Ruckel

Reuther Central High School in Kenosha – Sarah Renish and Pat Thompson

Random Lake Middle School – Peggy Lenz and Peter Pruefer

February 5^th in Waukesha

Frische Middle School in Milwaukee – Lynn Rinderle and Mike Hibben

Loyola Academy High School and Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee – Jill Frey and Beth Fetterley

Watertown High School – Trish Jarzynski and Rob Harms

Arrowhead High School in Hartland – Greg Bisbee and Phil Kasun

Wisconsin School for the Deaf in Delavan – Sheryl and Mark Aleksinski

New Berlin West High School – Ellery Engelhardt and Carol Malich

Brillion High School – Chris Gade and Jill Van Gruensven

Jefferson Elementary School in Waupun – Jason Buchholz and Dave Imhoff

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: David Lindorff (608) 266-9265 or e-mail david.lindorff@dnr.state.wi.us.