Youth water education: Programs and potential in the American Midwest

Water resources throughout the north central region of the United States have traditionally been abundant and of high quality. However, increasing demands from agriculture and urban growth, exacerbated by a changing climate, are putting pressures on water quality. Holistic and science-based management strategies can improve water quality, although the definition of “water quality” might depend on its particular use (Koteen et al. 2002). Sound water management decisions must be made based on a foundational knowledge of water resources and their natural and anthropogenic influences, opportunities for addressing changing and emerging threats, and a holistic perspective of how local …