Watershed Education Program

The City of Salem has an outstanding water education program. We invite you to take advantage of this incredible resource. It's easy and it's free. To learn more about the programs or to schedule a presentation, contact Deborah Topp at 503-588-6211 or dtopp@cityofsalem.net. 

Source Water Protection

Interested in activities related to source water protection? Click here for various student activities associated with source water protection.

Student Water Conservation Audit Kits

Learn to be Camel Clever

Interested in exploring water use? Salem’s student water kits are a great tool for classrooms to examine water use and the importance of water conservation. The kits are free and include the necessary tools to complete a plumbing fixture efficiency report card. This interactive project incorporates science and math skills and provides water conservation facts and tools to help reduce water use. For more information or to requests kits, please contact Deborah Topp, Water Resources Outreach Specialist, at 503-588-6211. Click here to download and fill out a Plumbing Fixture Efficiency Report.

Classroom Presentations

Given by Water Resources Staff

MS. Sally swims upstream

Sally the salmon needs to lay her eggs, but can't get back to the nesting site. However, Bert the bird just might be able to help. Animal puppets teach about salmon and aquatic ecosystems. (Available for grades 1 and 2)

Critters in the creek

Wanna learn about the hidden world of stream life? No stream studies are complete without a look at the wildlife that's seldom seen in your nearby creek. A slide show and "how-to" demo will get you started on the road to turning your students into "bugologists." Sampling equipment is available to be loaned. (Available for grades 2-12)

Take the Pledge!

Wondering how you and your students can make an environmental difference? The W.E.T. (Watershed Enhancement Team) pledge program shows you how a few changes in your everyday life can help protect your watershed. Once students learn about water pollution, they are given a pledge booklet with examples of actions they can take to protect our streams. Presentation includes an Enviroscape® or EcoMaster demo and pledge booklets for each student. (Available for grades 3-12)

The water cycle

Our most popular presentation. Learn about your drinking water - where it comes from and where it goes, water conservation, and how to prevent pollution. Experiments and our Enviroscape® model help drive home the lesson. (Available for grade 4)

Salem's water resources

A perfect presentation for when your class is discussing water, pollution, or endangered salmon. Using a slide show, the students learn about all the ways water - drinking water, wastewater, or streams - are treated or protected in Salem. Your students will also discover practical ways that they can help reduce water pollution. (Available for grades 3-adult)

Watersheds 101

This "intro" class PowerPoint^® presentation will explain what watersheds are and why they're important. The tremendous impacts impervious surfaces have on water quality is covered in detail, as are the efforts communities and individuals can make to mitigate these problems. Appropriate for both science and social studies classes. (Available for grades 8-adult)

Ecomasters computer program

Suitable for most grade levels. This exciting and interactive program covers storm drains, sewers, watersheds, water pollution, and hazardous household waste. Software can be copied onto school's computers. (Available for grades 3-5)

Watershed topics

Educational outreach staff are available to talk to your class on just about any water-related topic you can think of. Topics might include: water pollution, the Endangered Species Act, wastewater treatment, drinking water treatment, aquifer storage and recovery, or tree conservation. Challenge us! (Available for grades 2-12)

Field Trip Tours

Geren Island Drinking Water Treatment Facility (Stayton, Oregon)

Visit the site where the City of Salem gets its drinking water. To arrange a visit, call:

Tim Sherman, Treatment Facility Supervisor
phone: 503-769-2095
email: tsherman@cityofsalem.net

Willow Lake Water Pollution Control Facility (Keizer)

Discover how our wastewater is changed from dirty to clean water. You'll be surprised how interesting the process is. To arrange a visit, call:

Dave Robben, Operations Supervisor
phone: 503-588-6380
email: drobben@city of salem.net

Watershed tour

Learn about your watershed. The tour begins at Fishermen's Bend Park, looking at how nature provides clean drinking water through natural filtration in both forest and wetland. We then visit the Geren Island Water Treatment Plant, where Salem gets its drinking water. Our last stop is in Keizer at the Willow Lake Water Pollution Control Facility. Here we see how dirty water is cleaned.

The guided watershed tour is free. School groups must provide their own transportation. For more information, call 503-588-6211.

(All tours available for grades 2-12)

Community Service Projects

Storm Drain Stenciling

Help keep pollutants out of streams by painting the message "Dump No Waste-Drains to Stream" next to stormwater catch basins. A great activity for school, church, or community groups. (Grades 4-Adult)

Adopt-A-Stream: Stream studies in your school's neighborhood

Collect data on habitat, water quality, and stream flow. Become a water guru while giving your students the chance to become familiar with a nearby stream. To learn more about Adopt-A-Stream, click here.

(Grades 4-12)