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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Lois Capps today announced federal funding she secured to establish an innovative new education program, the Bay Watershed Education and Training program (B-WET), to teach local students more about protecting our marine environment on the Central Coast.
Congresswoman Capps was joined at Santa Barbara’s Ty Warner Sea Center by representatives from the Santa Barbara County School District, Santa Barbara ChannelKeeper, Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and the National Marine Sanctuary Program.
The new funding sets up a competitive grant program through which local school districts and other groups can apply. It will be run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Congresswoman Capps secured an appropriation to expand this popular NOAA initiative to the Central Coast as a way to increase students’ understanding of the importance of environmental stewardship.
“B-WET is a fantastic chance to teach our children environmental stewardship and how to protect watersheds, which is so important to all of the residents of the Central Coast,” Congresswoman Capps said. “These projects will teach students about science, health, the environment and our role in protecting our local watershed which would not be available through traditional field trips. I am looking forward to the great educational programs that can be funded by B-WET.”
NOAA plans to distribute $350,000 in grants in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties to educate students about area watersheds and the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. NOAA will accept applications for funding through February 21 from schools, colleges and universities; non profits; state or local government agencies; and Indian tribes for environmentally based education programs.
“B-WET is a great opportunity for hands-on education for our students to see, touch and learn in the natural world around them,” said Bill Cirone, Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools. “Integrating these experiences into the classroom is the key to this program. B-WET lets us raise the bar for environmental education.”
Congresswoman Capps and her staff will work closely with local schools and nonprofits that apply for the grants. The funding can be used to finance programs like field trips, scientific experiments, and restoration projects that will be integrated into the students’ curriculum.
"Marine and environmental education is extremely important in creating a stewardship of the coastal environment" said Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. "NOAA is proud to be a part of this program that provides students and teachers with unique and beneficial educational opportunities."
The B-WET program was established in 2002, with programs in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, expanding to the Monterey Bay watershed, San Francisco Bay and the Hawaiian Islands. Approximately $1.2 million dollars has already been allocated in California. Capps secured this most recent funding was secured in the FY06 Science-State-Justice-Commerce Appropriations Act.
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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.
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