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Groundwater Foundation 1-02-01
Nebraska Water Users wasn't the only water-related organization in Nebraska to celebrate an anniversary last year. On Nov. 14, 2000, the Groundwater Foundation marked its 15th anniversary during a banquet at the foundation's annual conference. According to the December 2000 edition of "The Aquifer," the foundation's regular publication, Susan Seacrest of Lincoln founded the Groundwater Foundation in 1985 for the purpose of "educating the public about the nature and value of groundwater." The Groundwater Foundation has grown to include programs and people from across the United States and around the world. Known for youth education, voluntary groundwater protection in communities and educational excellence and innovation, the Foundation has passed many important milestones in its 15-year history. Perhaps the milestone most familiar to Nebraskans is the annual Children's Groundwater Festival. Held each year since 1989, the festival has been feature in National Geographic magazine and has been replicated in the U.S. and other countries. Nebraska Water Users regularly participates in the festival with a display showing how irrigation water is part of the water cycle. Festival spin-offs include a summer program, "Groundwater University" for older students, and "The Awesome Aquifer Club," that helps students learn about groundwater throughout the school year. The foundation has also collaborated with National Public Radio and the National Geographic Society to promote non-point source pollution prevention in 1994 and 1995. An International Youth Summit was conducted in 1998 to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the Children's Groundwater Festival that included delegates from Panama, Russia, the United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, Canada, Australia and the United States. The foundation is also coordinating a growing network of "Groundwater Guardian" communities in 36 states. Each community forms a team and develops voluntary, pro-active programs to protect local groundwater supplies. In August 1999 the foundation received coverage in TIME magazine as part of TIME's "Heroes of the Planet" series. Finally, this past October the foundation launched an electronic publication called, "The Recharge Report." Today we'd also like to remind our listeners that the Nebraska Water Users 2001 annual meeting is just around the corner. Mark Jan. 17 on your calendars and plan to attend the meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. at Kirk's Nebraskaland Restaurant located at the I-80 interchange at Lexington. Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. and members and guests are encouraged to pre-register with NWU President Judy Zauha at Lexington by Jan. 12. Cost is $15 per person and includes dinner and all materials. Guest speakers will include Craig Smith of California, the new executive director of the Family Farm Alliance, and Lee Orten, a Lincoln water attorney who will discuss the Republican River lawsuit with Kansas. Also on the program is a panel discussion on the Platte River Cooperative Agreement. Come join NWU for this educational and informative program on Jan. 17 in Lexington! -30- |