The Jordan River Commission, through a partnership with Salt Lake County’s Watershed Restoration and Planning Program and the Center for Documentary Expression and Art (CDEA), has received a new grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’ Urban Waters Program.
This project will utilize the Center for Documentary Expression and Art’s Jordan River exhibit and catalog, ReAwakened Beauty: the Past, Present, and Future of the Jordan River, to engage intermediate and high school students and the adjoining river communities in water quality issues directly affecting them.
The program will place into residence Dr. Ty Harrison, Ecologist; Leslie Kelen, writer/ documentary artist; and Kent Miles, documentary photographer will place into residence and other guest speakers and consultants may include Stephen Trimble, Utah photographer and naturalist; Karri Smith, restoration ecologist and photographer; as well as many others.
Content developed by the student-community partnership will be utilized by the Jordan River Commission in QR code and smartphone technology to bring educational information to the fingertips of thousands of Salt Lake County residents. Digital codes installed within a pilot area and throughout the community can be scanned with a new mobile website developed for the watershed. Codes will link to educational information explaining the community’s role in protecting the watershed. The mobile website will also contain a library of educational topics and will allow residents to self-report water quality or safety concerns.