Grades 7 to 9 - 9 minutes
The Surface Water Video features Dino Sorrus, an animated water quality
spokes-dinosaur introducing live-action students reporting on the state of
today's surface water quality. This series was the winner of the American
Society of Association Executives' 1988 Gold Circle Award and US Industrial Film
& Video Festival Silver Screen Award.
Accompanying curriculum: Surface Water - The Student Resource Guide
Grades 4 to Adult - 28.5 minutes
This video discusses the concept of a watershed. The focus is on the
Nooksack Basin and issues specific to Whatcom County. The message is that we all
live downstream and must be aware of the impacts we have on the watershed we
live in.
Grades 7 to 9 - 11 minutes
The Wastewater Video is an animated, lively and colorful introduction to
wastewater treatment and its importance to our society.
Accompanying curriculum: Wastewater Treatment - Student's Resource Guide
Grade 3 to Adult - 22 minutes
A class assignment to report on water and the student response "boring" spur
two youngsters to some very creative research and discovery as they take us on a
trip through Bellingham's water system. Darlene and Rick introduce us to
watersheds, water conservation, water quality protection, and water treatment as
they try to find out just how many squirt gun squirts there are in a gallon.
Meet the corny teacher Mrs. Summerhill and get some good ideas for your next
report on water. This video is suggested as a pre-trip activity for students
participating in the Water Treatment Education Program. Produced by Vidcom for
the City of Bellingham Public Works Department.
Grade 3 to Adult - 20 minutes
Head to Blackjack Creek with the Bug Lady, Kate O'Laughlin and her team of
Girl Scouts to gain step by step instruction for collecting, counting, sorting
and identifying the bugs (macroinvertebrates) found in many northwest streams.
Kate's enthusiasm for these little creatures is contagious and the team members
catch on as they work to determine if Blackjack is a place salmon can survive.
Grade 6 to Adult - 20 minutes
Up, over and down. . . . evaporation, condensation and precipitation, the
hydrologic cycle. Learn the science of water and learn to appreciate the mere 3%
of the world's water that is fresh. Of this less than 1% is available for all
human uses on this planet. Learn how to do your part to protect this very
limited, yet vital resource.
Grade 5 to Adult - 10 minutes
Waterhog and his neighbors blatantly use as much water as they can, wasting
gallon after gallon while a young boy upstream watches his favorite fishing hole
go dry. A house fire awakens Waterhog and when he has no water left to put it
out, the message becomes clear. "Don't be a Waterhog." This is a silly video
about a very serious subject. Produced for San Diego Water Authority.
Grade 6 to Adult - 20 minutes
Tour planet Earth from a blimp traveling over the ocean, to the south pole,
to the Tucson Arizona desert and Epcot Center at Disney World. Throughout your
travels test yourself as your host quizzes people on the street about water. How
much water is usable? Who uses the most water? Which is more contaminated, water
underground or water in lakes? How can we conserve? How much waste water is pure
water? The message to take home: We have enough water, it just falls in the
wrong place at the wrong time. To have plenty of high quality usable water we
must pay for it when and where we need it. Produced by the American Water Works
Association.
Grade 6 to Adult - 35 minutes
Bill Nye Nye Nye the Science Guy guy guy joins with Flying Karamozov
Brothers and local TV weather experts for an entertaining message about the
vital role water plays in the Puget Sound Region. Five fast paced segments flow
through issues ranging from regional water and rainfall to watersheds,
stormwater/ wastewater systems, non-point source pollution and personal
stewardship. Produced for the Seattle Drainage and Wastewater Utility.
Grade 3 to Adult - 30 minutes
Join Stephanie Yu and travel through the water cycle mixing up a batch of
pollution stew, visiting a waste water treatment facility, exploring natural
cleaning systems and learning about personal choices that can help conserve and
preserve this vital resource. This is a great pre-trip overview for classes
planning a trip to the water and/or wastewater treatment facility.
The City produces a television series for the Education and Government
Channel 10 entitled Water Whys. Water Whys also airs on KBCB Channel 24. Water
Whys videos are also available for loan from all Whatcom County libraries.
Water Whys airs on:
The following are summaries of the shows produced as of August 2001:
Visit the diversion dam on the Middle Fork of the Nooksack River.
See underwater footage of the wooden intake pipe for Bellingham's drinking
water.
Learn about the water quality monitoring program and what goes into treating
our drinking water to ensure it is clean and safe.
Featuring:
Bill McCourt - Operations Superintendent - Bellingham
Lenny Hovde - Watershed Resident
Mike Kristiansen - Senior Technologist - Komex
Robin Matthews - Director of Watershed Studies - WWU
Peg Wendling - City Laboratory Supervisor
See footage of the June 10, 1999 Olympic Pipe Line gas leak, explosion, and
fire.
Learn about the history of change in Whatcom Creek.
Meet Bill Y the Water Guy.
Get updated on restoration efforts and share a special moment with Marlene
Robinson, mother of fire victim Liam Wood.
Featuring:
Clare Fogelsong - Environmental Resource Superintendent
Wendy Olinger - Student/Volunteer
Marlene Robinson - Liam Wood's mother
Find out where water from storm drains ends up.
See amazing footage of the 1983 flood.
Learn why wetlands are important to managing stormwater.
Discover ways to reduce pollution in our drinking water.
Featuring:
Howard Mills - Mills Electric
Jim Wiggins - Aquaterra Wetland Biologist
Kevin DeVries - Exxel Pacific Inc.
Ron Jepson - Ronald T. Jepson & Assoc.
Art Anderson - Assoc. General Contractors
Chris Spens - Senior Planner - Bellingham
Take a comprehensive look at the salmon life cycle.
Learn earth-friendly car wash techniques from Bill Y.
Discover ways you can help bring back our salmon.
Starring:
Erin Walcon
Follow the journey of wastewater from your home to Puget Sound.
Discover the short history of sewage treatment in Bellingham.
Learn how to inspect your septic tank from Bill Y.
Visit the Disposal of Toxics facility.
Featuring:
Mike Brock and Rene Sandoval - Public Works Crew Members
Jack Garner - Former Bellingham Public Works Director
Paul Chudek - Environmental Health Supervisor
Burr McPhail - Environmental Health Specialist
Keith Fredrikson - Waste Management Specialist
Larry Bateman - Wastewater Plant Supervisor
Travel back in time to see historic activities in the Lake Whatcom watershed.
Learn how a healthy watershed functions.
Discover threats to the Lake Whatcom watershed and simple things you can do
to protect it.
Featuring:
Hal Reeves - Local historian and radio personality
Hank Reasoner - Third generation Lake Whatcom resident, retired logger
Deborah Lambert - Water District 10 Commissioner
Gordon Scott - Conservation Director - Whatcom Land Trust
Terry Galvin - Former Planner - Whatcom County Planning Department
Dr. Greg Stern - Whatcom County Health Officer
Follow Bellingham's water from Mt. Baker to Bellingham Bay.
See inside a 3.8 million gallon water reservoir.
Find out about Lake Whatcom Sinks
Learn simple ways you can protect water for wildlife and people.
Starring:
Kristina Catlin
Bill ("Y") Evans
Richard Peterson
Talk with Tony Angell, Supervisor of Environmental Education for the State
Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Learn the benefits of using the environment as an education tool.
Meet four local environmental educators.
Featuring:
Tony Angell - State Environmental Superintendent
Sue Taylor - Environmental Educator
John Horner - Environmental Educator
Cynthia Zaferatos - Environmental Educator
Rae Edwards - Environmental Educator
This video utilizes recently discovered 16mm film taken of Public Works water
projects in the 1940s. Viewers also receive a summary of the history of
Bellingham over a background of wonderful period music pieces. This film
highlights the dedication and accomplishments of Bellingham's Public Works
employees over the last century.
Featuring:
Carl Caskey - Retired first-class pipeman
Neil Jensen - Retired City blacksmith
Irene Jacobson - Retired City chemist
The Water Whys crew visits the Northwest Flower and Garden Show in Seattle to
learn from the experts about ways to have a beautiful garden while protecting
our waterways. Bill Y the Water Guy explains the many benefits of mulching and
the amazing variety of mulching materials.
Featuring:
Cindy Bjorklund - National Park Service
Mike Bronkala - Gardenstone Design
Steve Hilderbrand - BH Landscapes, Inc.
Lynn Warner - King County Natural Resources
This episode focuses on the benefits of trees to the survival of salmon by
discussing large woody debris, riparian restoration and sustainable forestry
practices. Tom Edwards, a storyteller with the Lummi Nation, opens the show by
welcoming the viewer in his native language. Footage of a traditional Lummi
First Salmon Celebration helps the viewer understand the importance of salmon to
the native culture. Bill Y the Water Guy teaches the proper method for planting
tree seedlings.
Featuring:
Tom Edwards - Lummi Storyteller
Jim Hansen - Lummi Natural Resources
Bob Barker - NSEA Board Member
Alan Soicher - Evergreen Land Trust
