SDSU Announces Rivernet Environmental Project to Protect San Diego River Watershed

Leaders of SDSU, San Diego River Conservancy and San Diego River Park Foundation to sign agreement and demonstrate project April 18 along banks of river

Contact:
Tom Hanscom
Director of Media Relations
San Diego State University
hanscom@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO (Wednesday, April 16, 2008) —San Diego State University is partnering with the San Diego River Conservancy (SDRC) and the San Diego River Park Foundation (SDRPF) to create a broad range program to enhance and preserve one of the region’s most important watersheds.  A formal signing event took place Friday, April 18 along the banks of the San Diego River, within Mission Trails Regional Park.

Field biologists from SDSU demonstrated a high-speed, wireless sensor network that will provide remote monitoring throughout the river watershed.

Participants in the ceremony will include SDSU President Stephen Weber, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, State Senator Christine Kehoe, San Diego Councilmember Donna Frye, SDRC Executive Director Mike Nelson and SDRPF Executive Director Rob Hutsell.  Also on hand will be representatives of SDSU’s Field Stations Program, who will provide support for the project through education, research, conservation and technology.

“The San Diego River has long served our community, from the Native Americans who first settled along its banks to those of us today who still appreciate its beauty,” said Weber.  “We look forward to an active role in monitoring and improving the health of this important resource.  It is a privilege to help to preserve the river for future generations of San Diegans.”  

Following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the partners, field biologists from SDSU and the High-Performance Wireless Research & Education Network (HPWREN) will demonstrate one of the first of many partnership projects – a high-speed, wireless sensor network that will provide remote monitoring throughout the river watershed.

(from left) Matt Rahn, SDSU Field Stations; Steve Weber, SDSU President; Senator Christine Kehoe; Mayor Jerry Sanders; City Councilwoman Donna Frye; Rob Hutsell, San Diego River Protection Foundation and Mike Nelson, San Diego River Conservancy.

Ultimately, this project will represent the largest such waterway monitoring network in the United States, collecting long-term, real-time data on water quality, flooding, and changes in the ecosystem.

“This system will be similar to the one we pioneered in our Santa Margarita Ecological Reserve,” explained Matt Rahn, director of SDSU’s Field Stations Program.  “It will have many important uses, including the ability to assess the real-time effects of fire, landslide, chemical contamination or flooding, to help responders make swift and effective responses to such occurrences.”

Over centuries of human use and abuse, the natural functions of the San Diego River and its watershed have been severely altered.  It is the aim of the partnership to re-establish the river’s viability, by retaining access to those seeking responsible recreational and educational access.

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelor’s degrees in 81 areas, master’s degrees in 74 areas and doctorates in 16 areas. SDSU’s approximately 34,000 students participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.

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