Oregon Water Stories

One objective of the USGS-PSU Partnership (UPP) is to support opportunities for students to engage in meaningful projects that advance Oregon water science and resource management. By supporting opportunities that allow students to gain and practice professional and science skills, we can create a better skilled workforce that is prepared to make a positive impact across the state. 

Dr. Melissa Haeffner, an associate professor in the Environmental Science and University Studies Department, is doing just that by engaging undergraduate students with the Oregon Water Stories project. 

Oregon Water Stories is a text-based media database that launched in 2018 as a part of the University Studies Human and Nature Freshman Inquiry Class (FRINQ). The focus is on collecting media articles and first-person interviews that illustrate the modern relationship between humans and water. In this FRINQ Class, students from varying disciplines dive into Oregon's intricate water issues while learning data management techniques. Each successive class adds tabs to the website, such as an interactive map of water-related articles, videos of student-led interviews, and a quiz to test website visitors' water knowledge. Recent additions include lectures from the School of Environment's 2020 Speaker Series on Water Justice. 

Oregon Water Stories isn’t just part of the FRINQ. The database is also a critical part of a Water Injustice Early Detection System that Dr. Haeffner and students in her Water Justice Lab are building. Construction of this detection system involves creating three databases: a 5-year collection of text-based media (Oregon Water Stories), a hydro geographical assessment of human water values, and a dataset detailing the safety, affordability, reliability, and availability (SARA) of water. Data from these databases will help reveal SARA issues, determine water needs among varying communities and identify which voices are missing in shaping the state's water policy and management. 

Since its creation, the Oregon Water Stories website has become a tool for Water Justice Lab members to reference, discuss their work, and connect with other water justice organizations across Oregon. 

The Oregon Water Stories project educates a broad range of students about Oregon's water resources and issues, helps them practice useful data management skills, and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration. Supporting projects where students can grow these necessary skills benefits and strengthens the future of water science and its growing workforce. 

For more information, visit the Oregon Water Stories website.