Educational Resources
Resources for Teachers and Others Who Care About Water Conservation
The EPA's WaterSense Program
This site features "A Day in the Life of a Drop" activities for students and a "Test Your WaterSense" quiz for all ages. The WaterSense program offers a simple way to choose products that use less water with no sacrifice to quality or performance. Toilets and faucets are independently certified to qualify for the WaterSense label.
Educational Opportunities for Everyone
Adult workshops and other educational opportunities are offered at the Arboretum and Willow Bend Environmental Education Center. These workshops are taught by experts in their field that donate their time and skills to make these events valuable to you. Sign up now for these workshops before they fill up! Improve your knowledge of the natural world and your landscape!
Water Education for Teachers (WET)
The City of Flagstaff once again partnered with Arizona Project WET to coordinate our eleventh water festival for local fourth graders at Foxglenn Park. Nearly 850 students from Flagstaff schools participate in the water-themed educational activities, including topics on the water cycle, watersheds, groundwater, and water conservation. Fourth-grade teachers receive specialized training prior to the event and prepare students by adding educational opportunities to their classroom instruction. Students take tests before and after the water festival. Making the event a great success by providing instruction and assistance volunteers from the City of Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University, Willow Bend Environmental Center, and Coconino County. Volunteers and staff are rewarded with delicious pizza donated in part by Fratellis! Learn more about Project WET.
Teacher Academies
Teacher workshops often provide continuing education credit. Find information about upcoming workshop availability and who to contact. You can find additional educational information for kids at the children's water page. Workshops are scheduled for Phoenix and Tucson. If you're interested in scheduling a workshop or teacher in-service, please contact City of Phoenix: (602) 470-8086, ext. 333, (520) 792-9591, ext. 22; Maricopa County: (602) 470-8086, ext 335.
Xeriscape
Learn more about Xeriscape at the bottom of this page: Water saving tips and how you can participate.
Rio de Flag Wetland
Conservation efforts continue at the Rio de Flag Wetland.
Frances Short Pond
Arizona Game and Fish Heritage Fund grants have enabled several projects at the pond over the years.
Phase I: In Phase I, the pond was drained and cleaned in 2004/05, removing 18,000 cubic yards of sediment to restore the site. It now holds approximately 3.6 million gallons of water (2 acres), and it is naturally filled from runoff through the Rio de Flag and supplemental City of Flagstaff recycled water. Water depth is about 10 feet at the dam crest and the average depth of the pond is about 3 to 5 feet. This study area serves Flagstaff Middle School, Marshall Elementary, Flagstaff High, New Start Middle and High Schools, as well as NAU, CCC, and any school wishing to use the pond for environmental studies. The pond is routinely stocked with trout by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and existing signs indicate a preference for catch and release.
Phase II: Phase II funds created standards-based environmental educational materials and training for this wetland habitat.
Phase III: Phase III included enhancements to provide long-term and wide-ranging benefits. These benefits included creating a nature trail adjacent to the pond, adding benches to view urban wildlife and habitat, fabricating / installing interpretive signs, installing a solar-powered pond circulator, and adding trash receptacles. The pond was also cleaned of plant material in the late summer of 2015, allowing a better environment for aquatic wildlife.
Rio Well Landscape Site
The Rio Well landscape site exhibits native and xeriscape plants divided into the zones. It is located due east and south of the reclaimed water load-out station on Babbitt Way. Signs at each zone list the plants that occur in these types of locations in Arizona. If you are in the process of redesigning your yard to be more water efficient, feel free to stop by and see the wonderful work that was done there. You can walk the rock path and view the signs and plants along the way. We would like to thank the Bureau of Reclamation for providing the grant money to fund the work at this site.