Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay has been awarded a 2005-06 K-16 Collaboration Grant from Ohio Campus Compact to fund the Blanchard Valley Watershed Research Project.

The project partners 15 students from The University of Findlay First-Year Experience Program and 18 eleventh grade special needs students from Findlay High School.  They will study issues facing the watershed in Hancock County, which have created an “impaired” rating by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.  Together, students will design an action service plan with the goal of changing the impaired status to one of quality.

As a central service project, these groups will conduct research on the watershed, identify pollution sources, analyze types of pollution while cleaning up park streams and determine a list of current and potential park and water recreation activities for high school and college students. The two classes will complement each other as they participate in both the social and scientific input to a public decision process.

Their findings were presented at the University’s Academic Excellence Day, Nov. 9, and they plan to present the information to numerous other groups, including the Findlay High School Environmental Club, the Blanchard Valley Watershed Study Group and the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.  They also will present the results in writing to the Hancock Park District and the Blanchard Valley Watershed Study Group. 

According to Dr. Wayne Sneath, UF academic coordinator and instructor of Campus Compact, the service-learning project will prepare students to become better citizens, neighbors and contributing members of society through active participation and stewardship of their parks and streams.  “The students will learn a variety of skills ranging from seeking valid answers and solving problems to impacting public decisions in a diverse and multicultural global community and reflecting on results,” Sneath explained.

For more information on the Blanchard Valley Watershed Research Project, Sneath at 419-434-5310.