Fresno State was awarded a $75,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation to study the economic and human impact of the drought on the eight counties of the central San Joaquin Valley.
Under the direction of Provost Lynnette Zelezny, the study will cover many areas impacted by the drought, including farming, government services, people, housing and the environment. The study also will identify the next steps that Fresno State can take to lead an effort to secure the resources and services needed to address the drought’s impacts.
The study will produce a repository of information about the drought, including graphs, spreadsheets, charts, maps, a bibliography, a list of key contacts and Web links to other valuable information such as data sets, content sites, government agencies and online maps and reports.
The Water Cohort Team includes faculty experts in earth and environmental sciences, water management, science education, civil engineering, public health, urban/regional planning and digital library resources. Its mission is to engage the campus and community in discussions and activities to build awareness of water issues and challenges.
The cohort aims to spark action, address issues and collaborate for water solutions in the Central Valley and beyond. The team studies water quality, conservation, delivery systems, supply development, recycling, drought-tolerant crops, incorporating new technologies and current water challenges.
For more information about the grants, contact Dr. Gil Harootunian, director of University initiatives, at gharootunian@csufresno.edu or 559.278.4850.
