Application Deadline: June 10, 2008
The Fellowship is available for a student pursuing a Masters degree at an Oregon College or University to develop and evaluate outreach and education approaches that improve the skills of well owners to monitor water levels and understand their water-use patterns.
Oregon Sea Grant (OSG), founded in 1968 and based at Oregon State University, supports research, education and public outreach to help people understand, responsibly use, and conserve ocean and coastal resources. The mission of the Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) is to serve the public by practicing and promoting responsible water management.
Eligibility: The fellowship will be awarded to a current or incoming Masters level graduate student enrolled at an Oregon College or University. Applications may be submitted prior to enrollment accompanied by a letter from the department or college of acceptance. The student must maintain their institution’s enrollment requirements and be in good standing with their department. A valid Oregon driver’s license is required.
Award: The student will be awarded a stipend for 3 months of full time work during the summer of 2008 (up to $2500 per month). The student will also receive a stipend for 9 months at 40% work schedule (0.40 FTE) beginning in the fall of 2008 ($1000 per month). A limited travel and project related supplies budget will also be available.
Location: During the summer of 2008 the student will be based full time at the OWRD in Salem. During the school year the student will be able to do some work from their campus, but may be required to travel to the OWRD and/or OSG offices one to three times a week. Over the course of the project their will be significant field work in the central Willamette Valley.
Application Requirements:
- Current resume or curriculum vitae
- One page personal statement describing your related experience, your ability to perform the tasks outlined in the scope of work, and how this fellowship will contribute to your graduate experience as well as your focus area of research or study.
- Reference list containing names, titles and current contact information of four references. Please include the number of years you have known each reference and the nature of your relationship. At least two references should be in a position to comment on your academic performance. All references should be able to speak to your suitability for the fellowship.
- A brief letter from your current or future academic advisor in suppot of your application.
- Transcripts of all college level coursework attempted. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable at the time of application. Official transcripts may be requested during review.
Please send or deliver applications to Julie Risien, Oregon Sea Grant at the address listed below.
Selection: Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee composed of 3-5 individuals including, but not limited to, staff of OSG and OWRD. The selection committee will review all application materials and conduct interviews with the top candidate/candidates.
Important Dates:
- Application Deadline – June 10
- Application Review Period – June 10 through June 17
- Interviews – June 19 and June 20
- Notification of Award – June 23
- Start Date – June 25 to July 1
- Final Project Report Due on July 1, 2009
Ground Water Aquifer Monitoring
Background and Scope of Work
Current Situation:
Over 5000 new wells are drilled annually in Oregon to meet the water supply needs for a growing population. This has raised concerns of existing well users in some areas that additional withdrawals may lead or add to aquifer declines.
The Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) has a network of wells and study areas that are monitored by Ground Water Section and Field Division staff. Currently WRD staff monitors hundreds of wells around the state collecting water level and flow meter data that are useful in resolving disputes and planning for growth. The Department, however, does not have the resources to monitor all developing neighborhoods for aquifer stability.
Collection of water level data over time provides information that is vital to understanding the sustainability of ground water aquifers. Educating well owners about water level and water use measurement can improve their understanding of the local ground water supply and provide them an interest in protecting and conserving the resource.
There is a need for additional data collection of water levels in wells and to provide a centralized repository of data and information that is readily available to planners, landowners, and others.
Purpose:
The purpose of this project is to develop an outreach program that provides resources to domestic well-owners. The program will help well-owners understand the importance of collecting water-level and water-use data, and provide the know-how to collect the data from their wells. The outreach materials may consist of, but are not limited to, brochures, presentations, and WebPages that illustrate how to measures wells, the importance of proper well construction, and the necessity of proper data collection and documentation. These resources would be used by individuals and neighborhood associations to demonstrate how well users can develop a water measurement program to learn about their local ground water resource.
Objectives:
- Develop educational tools on water-level and water-use measurement
- Improve community understanding of ground water supply issues
- Develop landowner skills and involvement in collection of water level data
- Provide a central repository and access point for data sharing
Proposal:
This project would bring together the OWRD and OSG Extension Program. OWRD has expertise in collecting, storing, and interpreting data. OSG Extension Program provides expertise in community outreach and communication.
The project goal is to develop a pilot project of community involvement in the Eola Hills Ground Water Limited area northwest of Salem for the collection of ground water level and use data. Well owners, through this education program, would learn how to properly measure the water level in their well using sound scientific methodologies, and how to properly document that data along with water use data from their well. All data would be available to the public to better understand the sustainability of ground water resources in the area.
The graduate will be supervised jointly by OWRD and OSG Extension. The student will be expected to deliver related products to OWRD and OSG.
Responsibilities and deliverables:
- Project orientation and background research with OWRD Ground Water Section and Field Division staff, along with OSG Extension staff.
- Network with landowners and stakeholders in the project area; includes regular attendance at relevant community and agency meetings.
- Development of outreach materials; brochures, and visual aids for landowners trainings
- Coordination and facilitation of landowner trainings
- Develop and maintain web content related to this program, including basic well monitoring information, as well as actual data from participants
- Provide technical support to landowners participating with volunteer well monitoring.
- Store, share and analyze data collected in a format digestible by non water-related professionals.
Final project report due by 7/1/2009.
Questions and completed applications should be addressed to:
Julie Risien
Oregon State University
Oregon Sea Grant Extension
307 Ballard Extension Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331
(541) 737-4440
julie.risien@oregonstate.edu