Community Outreach
& Education Programs

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Delta Discovery Program Honored By Mt. Diablo Schools

More than 5,000 took trips on the Delta this year

The Mt. Diablo Unified School District Board of Education recognized CCWD and the Delta Diablo Sanitation District this month for the work they did on putting together the Delta Discovery Voyage program.

CCWD Education Specialist Marianne Hook and DDSD Community Outreach Coordinator Linda Brewer received plaques during a special presentation at the school board meeting.

This year, more than 5,000 fifth-grade students, teachers and parents took part in the voyages, which teach the importance of the Delta as their source of water.

Board President Gary Eberhart went on the Delta Discovery Voyages this year, and said the program -- along with other CCWD and DDSD education programs -- were playing an important role in children's education.

He said the ship used on the voyages -- the R.V. Robert D. Brownlee -- is an ideal platform for teaching children lessons about their water, the environment and bringing alive science education.

In the photo above, Board President Gary Eberhart presents plaques to CCWD's Marianne Hook and DDSD's Linda Brewer.

Research Vessel Robert G. Brownlee

Delta Diablo Sanitation District is proud to sponsor educational voyages for 5th grade students. In cooperation with the Mount Diablo School District and Contra Costa Water District, over 40 schools in our service area participated last year. In addition to fully funding the voyages, Delta Diablo also covers the cost of bus transportation.

Students join the Marine Science Institute crew for a four-hour expedition of the Delta aboard the 90-foot research vessel, the Robert G. Brownlee. They spend a half-day as scientists, discovering the Delta's ecosystem and discussing their own roles within it. Students collect and examine plankton, run hydrology tests, and observe wetland ecology from the ship. They delve through mud samples, discovering the fascinating invertebrates that thrive at the river's bottom. Students also use a trawl net to catch a wide variety of fish species. They then identify the fish with a dichotomous key, and before releasing, measure each fish for MSI's monitoring program. This program offers students the chance to enjoy the natural vitality of this area while learning valuable scientific skills. They also see first hand the relationship between inappropriate human behavior (e.g., dumping paint or oil into drains) and their watershed.

Dates: Winter 2009/10

Cost: Free to 5th grade students in Antioch, Bay Point and Pittsburg

For Info: Angela Lowrey (925) 756-1945 or Marine Science Institute

Water Pollution Prevention Classroom Presentation (for Grade 5)

Did you know that 'bugs' help us clean up the water! Learn about this and many other interesting topics regarding: water, water pollution, wastewater, and household hazardous waste by signing your class up for Delta Diablo Sanitation District's water pollution prevention classroom presentation. This presentation uses various multimedia tools including: posters, student activities booklets, demonstrations, an experiment and microscope.

Dates: Ongoing

Cost: Free to 5th grade students in Antioch, Bay Point and Pittsburg

For Info: Andrew Kobayashi, (925) 756-1929