Groundwater Guardian

Marge Cook

Desert Hot Springs Groundwater Guardian Team Hosts Students Drinking Water Festival at Desert Springs MiddleSchool

By Marge Cook

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Groundwater Guardian Marge Cook HOME ALERTS! ABOUT US FEATURES WRITERS LETTERS POLICE REPORT EDITOR CONTACT US     Desert Hot Springs Groundwater Guardian Team Hosts Students Drinking Water Festival at Desert Springs MiddleSchool By Marge Cook   On Thursday, March 16, 2006, the Desert Hot Springs Groundwater Guardian Team hosted the 8th Annual Student's Drinking Water Festival at Desert Springs Middle School for over 500 6th Grade students.   Participating in the Festival, which provides hands-on activities and education about the Desert Hot Springs award-wining water, were Sharon Brown, water resources technician II, water conservation section, California Department of Water Resources; Maria De La Paz Carpio-Obeso, Ph.D., California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Colorado River Basin; members of the Desert Springs Middle School Groundwater Guardian Campus Team; Danny Moncada, water utility worker #2, Mission Springs Water District; Florence Mowrer, public information specialist, Riverside County Flood Control & Water Conservation District; and Caroline Conway, lead naturalist, The Wildlands Conser-vancy.   This is the first year the Desert Springs Middle School Groundwater Guardian Campus Team students, who decorated the school's Multi-Purpose Gym with a large Water Festival banner and rain drops & water elements, hosted a presentation for their peers on the effects hazardous waste has on groundwater.    The Desert Hot Springs Groundwater Guardian Team's mission since 1995 has been "educating and motivating the Greater Desert Hot Springs community to care for and about their groundwater," and the Student's Drinking Water Festival is just one of the many Result Oriented Activities (ROAs) the Team hosts every year.     Photos - Buzz Gambill ____________________________________________________     Gold Medals Presented at Desert Hot Springs Groundwater Guardian 10th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Designation Ceremony   Those participating in the 10th Anniversary celebration included Mission Springs Water District, (a Groundwater Guardian Affiliate designated in 1997) and the Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce. The event also served as the Annual Groundwater Guardian Designation Ceremony for the Team, the Desert Hot Springs School Groundwater Guardian Campus Team (designated in 2000) and the new Desert Springs Middle School Groundwater Guardian Campus Team.   Individuals honored this day were, John ''Whitey'' Morgan, former General Manager of Mission Springs Water District; Nancy Wright and Mac Villines, Mission Springs Water District Board of Directors; Don Coleman, former public information officer, Mission Springs Water District; Lane Sarasohn, president Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce; Dr. Paul Ross, Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; Mary Gibson, Dorothy Glass and Randy Duncan, Mission Springs Water District Board of Directors.   Beside the recognition of the 1995 Desert Hot Springs Groundwater Guardian Team Founders, was the acknowledgment of Groundwater Guardian Team Scholarship recipients, Vanessa Yee, 2004, USC School of Architecture and Chris Acalinas, 2005, Humboldt State University. The Desert Hot Springs High School Groundwater Guardian Campus Team was recognized for its water system project in Chiapas, Mexico, along with "Newspapers in Education" special supplement, "Groundwater and you" and for the water-related ceramic tile wall and water conservation garden built there.   Others recognized with Gold Medals included Dr. Michael Sellwood, superintendent, Palm Springs Unified School District; Dr. Brian Murray, principal, Desert Hot Springs High School; Pete A'Hear, science specialist, Palm Springs Unified School District; Jim Taylor, Judith McEneary, Janet Christie, Aries Jaramillo and Ricky O'Hara, Desert Hot Springs High School. Principal of Desert Springs Middle School, Mike Swize and Carol Carey, science teacher, were recognized with Gold Medals and were part of the second Desert Hot Springs Ground water Guardian "raising the Groundwater flag" ceremonies. Proclamations and Resolutions were presented to the Desert Springs Middle School from Mission Springs Water District, the California State Water Resources Control Board, Congressman Jerry Lewis, the California Regional Water Quality Control Board - Colorado River Basin, Senator Jim Battin, Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Directors, Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia.   Other individuals recognized were Leanna Bonamici, Casablanca Studios; Kitty Pallsen, parent of Chris Acalinas, recipient of the Team's 2005 Scholarship (and a graduate of Desert Hot Springs Groundwater University 2003) and a student at Humboldt State University; and Mr. & Mrs. Yee, parents of Vanessa Yee, recipient of the Team's 2004 Scholarship and a student of Architecture. If you would like more information about the Desert Hot Springs Groundwater Guardian Teams, contact Marge Cook, executive director, at 760-329-6480.   ______________________________________________________             Marge Cook, executive director, at 760-329-6480 __________ Groundwater Guardian   Desert Hot  Springs Groundwater Guardian Team - Since 1995   "Educating and motivating the Greater Desert Hot Springs community to care for and about their groundwater."