Field Trips
The WRI field trips immerse students in the human-water interactions that shape water discussions on both a local and global scale. Driving tours of the Saratoga Lake watershed and boat tours of Saratoga Lake itself help students better understand the social, cultural, and natural influences contributing to the controversies associated with a search for a new drinking water source. The first-hand visualization of the watershed is also critical to helping students develop creative and practical community-based research questions. An international field trip to the Valley of Mexico places our local water issues in a global context for students and helps emphasize the challenges facing many communities in water-stressed regions of the world.
Valley of Mexico

Allison Stafford '06, Kim Marsella and Karen Kellogg in Mexico

Karen Kellogg and Allison Stafford '06 looking at water systems in Mexico

Students and faculty at water fiesta

Students and faculty at water fiesta
Southern California - Salton Sea

Wildflowers of the desert ecosystem in Southern California

One of the many irrigation canals in the highly managed water systems of Southern California
Saratoga Lake Watershed

Molly Bergen '07 with Alison Barnes at the start of Fish Creek

Students and faculty on Saratoga Lake

Michael Ennis-McMillan navigating Saratoga Lake with students

Karen Kellogg and Adam Wallace '06
Southern California - Salton Sea

Kim Marsella, Bob Turner and Michael Ennis-McMillan walking along the shore of the Salton Sea

Bob Turner on Salvation Mountain