West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) Division III Director Carol W. Kwan presented a $9,000 check to the Surfrider Foundation South Bay Chapter on November 18 in support of their Teach and Test Program.
The South Bay Chapter’s Teach and Test Program, which began in 2004, is part of Surfrider Foundation’s Blue Water Task Force volunteer-run water testing, education, and advocacy program. The chapter, whose boundaries extend from San Pedro to the Ballona Creek, conducts the program – a volunteer high school water quality monitoring project for the Santa Monica Bay. The program introduces high school students to water quality and supply issues, exposes them to environmental science careers and supports both West Basin’s and the community’s effort to monitor and protect the health of the Santa Monica Bay.
Five local high schools and one middle school will be participating in the program this year – El Segundo High School, Mira Costa High School, Redondo Union High School, Palos Verdes High School, Lawndale High School and Parras Middle School. Students are supervised by Surfrider Foundation staff volunteers every other Sunday from October through May to collect water samples from 21 coastal beach sites. Students also prepare and analyze the water samples at a science lab with the oversight of an experienced lab technician.
West Basin has been the program sponsor since 2006, providing annual funding to supply program equipment, materials, and lab technician services. West Basin is proud to sponsor this community research project and job skills training program. It fosters environmental stewardship among high school students and creates community awareness about local water issues.
For photos, water sample results and more information, visit http://www.westbasin.org/community-education/teach-and-test-program.
