Environmental Science class receives grant for river restoration

Efforts made by California State University, Fresno students and volunteers with the nonprofit group RiverTree to help restore the San Joaquin River have paid off in the form of a $29,143 grant from the Fresno Regional Foundation to continue their work.

Unlike other political science students, those enrolled in Dr. Mark Somma’s Environmental Politics and Policy class are doing more than sitting in a classroom and taking tests – they are leaving their traditional classroom setting for the banks of the San Joaquin River, where they have dedicated themselves to restoring the Central Valley icon.

“The students here have gone far above and beyond anything that I imagined to help restore the river and build relationships with community groups, local agencies and local schools,” Somma said. “Their work now stretches into environmental service and research activities that stretch across the Central Valley.”

Partnering with federal, state, local and nonprofit organizations, students enrolled in the class are given the opportunity to work on projects focused on rehabilitating the San Joaquin River, one of the largest rivers in the Western United States.

Students from the course have helped identify and remove four tons of non-native plant species from a fish hatchery channel; organize more than 200 community volunteers to clear 25 tons of debris from the river; host more than 200 K-12 students on educational canoe trips; provide the California Department of Fish and Game with original research about the reintroduction of wild salmon to the San Joaquin River; and work to develop trail areas around the river, including a handicapped-accessible fishing dock.

The grant was awarded by the Fresno Regional Foundation in recognition of the students’ and organization’s efforts. The grant will help continue student endeavors to plant and restore native vegetation, conduct additional river cleanups, and run a summer river education program for local elementary children.

For more information contact, Somma at markso@csufresno.edu or 559.278.8408.