ObjectivesProvide quantitative, real-life hydrogeological experiences for undergraduate non-majorsProvide holistic, field-based learning opportunities in surface and groundwater hydrology in five courses for majors Provide support for regional K-12 teachers via professional development workshops, well access, TA support, and equipment loans as part of broader impactsComplete program evaluation integrated across pre-college through senior levels

GetWET Site

Figure 3. Six monitoring wells with steel risers and locking caps at the GetWET Observatory. Riparian vegetation in photo borders Spring Creek. View to northwest.

Figure 5. Well locations at the GetWET Observatory. Flow lines are approximated and drawn perpendicular to contour lines (0.05 m intervals) based on water table elevations from each well. (modified from C. Spence)

Undergraduate Majors – Freshman - Sophomore Level

Figure 6. Cross sections of core collected from each well. Layers correlated between wells where possible using dashed lines. (modified from C. Spence)

GW 5 GW 1 GW 2 GW 3 GW 4 GW 6

Not recovered

Not recovered

Not recovered

Not recovered Not

recovered

*

*: white space not recovered

Run 1

Run 2

Run 3

Run 4

*

Not recovered

Run 4

Run 3

Run 2

Run 1

Not recovered

Not recovered

: water table level

Not recovered

Not recovered

Not recovered

Not recovered

Not recovered

Not recoveredNot

recovered

Not recovered

Not recovered

Not recovered

**

Note: elevations at the top of the well casing

Elevation: 1521.29 m 1521.27 m 1521.16 m 1521.35 m 1521.22 m 1521.08 m

+

+: shoe (sleeve extra if plotted at top of run)

+

(Bottom 3”)

+Run 1

Run 2

Run 3

Run 4

+

+

+

+

+

+

++

+

+

Run 1Run 1Run 1

Run 2Run 2Run 2

Run 3Run 3Run 3

Run 4Run 4Run 4

+

+

(S) (N) (E) (W)

TOP

MIDDLE

BOTTOM

TOP

BOTTOM

TOP

BOTTOM

BOTTOM

BOTTOM

BOTTOM

BOTTOM

BOTTOM

BOTTOM

BOTTOM

BOTTOM

BOTTOM

BOTTOM

BOTTOM

BOTTOM

TOP

TOPTOP

TOP

TOP

TOP

TOP

TOP

TOP

TOP

MIDDLE

TOP

TOP

MIDDLE

MIDDLE

MIDDLE

2.15 m 2.15 m2.15 m

1.53 m

2.77 m

1.69 m

4.31 m4.31 m

5.85 m 5.85 m5.85 m5.85 m5.85 m5.85 m

3.69 m

4.62 m

5.23 m5.23 m

Sand and gravel

Weathered bedrock

Bedrock

Black clay

MIDDLE

AcknowledgementsFunding for the GetWET was provided by NSF DUE-CCLI grant 0536136. In-Situ, Inc. generously donated monitoring equipment to the GetWET. Thanks to Christina Spence, Carleton College and REU – Program in Water Resources at CSU (summer 2006) for her site characterization of the GetWET, and to John Gilbert, CSU undergraduate geology major, for his reliable assistance. S. Rathburn thanks NSF Cutting Edge workshop hosts for insight into the process and possibilities of obtaining NSF DUE funding.

Figure 2. Well installation at GetWET, April 2006. View to southwest.

GetWET Well Locations

4980

5000

5020

5040

5060

5080

4800 4820 4840 4860 4880 4900 4920 4940

E-W Coordinate (UTM)

N-S Coordinate (UTM)

Creek Gauge

GW 3

GW 2

GW 1

GW 5

GW 4 GW 6

1519.00 m

1518.95 m

1518.90 m

THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY GetWET OBSERVATORY: THE COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY GetWET OBSERVATORY:

A Fluid Learning Environment Promoting Deeper UnderstandingA Fluid Learning Environment Promoting Deeper UnderstandingSara Rathburn1 (rathburn@cnr.colostate.edu), Andrew Warnock2, William Sanford1, and Dennis Harry1

1Department of Geosciences, 2Center for Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education, Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, CO

Undergraduate Non-majors:

Undergraduate Geology/Watershed Science Majors – Senior Level

Broader Impacts – K-12 Professional Development

Figure 1. GetWET Observatory shown in red box, south campus property, CSU.

GetWET Insight – First Six MonthsInvolve students at all levels

Non-majors and majors were present during drilling, collecting core, well installation and completionStudent hourly hired during funding period, and REU student project summer 2006

Unifying, cross-disciplinary event for our Department, shared sense of successPromote yourself through good public relations

•Contact local newspaper to cover important events resulted in important industry partner donations

•Submit press release on campus drew College/University attention and interest; Federal agency interest (River Watch)

Professional development institutes (Summer 2006 - 2008) CSU graduate credit and stipends for teachersTeachers developed action plans to integrate GetWET facility into their curriculaOngoing support: teacher network, website, groundwater well access, equipment loans and TA supportConduct outreach presentations featuring small hands-on groundwater models

www.csmate.colostate.edu/getwet/

Well number Elevation at top of casing (m)

Water table elevation (m)

GW5 1521.22 1.69

GW1 1521.29 2.15

GW2 1521.27 2.15

GW3 1521.16 2.15

GW4 1521.35 1.53

GW6 1521.08 2.77

Develop water table map Calculate hydraulic parameters

Hydraulic gradient (h/x)Specific discharge (q=K(h/x)Groundwater discharge (Q=Aq)

Evaluate water chemistryTemp, pH, specific conductance, dissolved oxygen

Undergraduate Geology Majors – Senior Level

Figure 7. Mounting copper wire on casing for down hole resistivity surveys to be completed by G442 Applied Geophysics class.

Figure 4. Continuous core equipment used during drilling, April 2006.

Figure 10. Teachers collecting groundwater samples and measuring water levels, June 2006.

Figure 11. Teachers modeling contaminant flow in groundwater, June 2006.

Students also developed potentiometric surface map of unconfined aquifer Follow-up labs will include hydraulic testing (aquifer, slug tests); proper field sampling techniques for water quality parameters (pH, T, SC, DO, NO3

-, PO4-, SO4

2-) in groundwater wells and Spring Creek Laboratory reports incorporate all data from GetWET in consulting report format

Figure 9. G452 Hydrogeology assignment, Fall 2006. Students used core descriptions of C. Spence (Fig. 6) to develop and interpret hydrostratigraphic cross sections.

Figure 8. Shear wave velocity structure of aquifer system at the GetWET from G442 class, Fall 2004. Blue region is interpreted as portion of aquifer above the water table (Vs<220 m/sec). Water table is ~3 m deep. Saturated zone has Vs between 250-380 m/sec.

Unsaturated Aquifer

Saturated Aquifer

Paleochannel?

Pierre Shale