ASU launches new Water Studies Minor with Water 101

Courtesy of ASU Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center

ALAMOSA -- The truth in the adage “Water touches everything and everyone” was fully evident on Tuesday afternoon when a diverse class of Adams State University (ASU) undergrads with varied backgrounds and majors, working professionals, retired professionals and community members including both newcomers and natives of the SLV gathered together for the first class in the newly created “Water Studies Minor and Community Listening Course” at Adams State University.

Titled “Water 101: Water Essentials”, the class is taught by two people with extensive history and expertise in multiple areas related to water.

Armando Valdez is a professor in the Business Department at ASU. In addition to being one of the longest tenured professors with more than 17 years at ASU, Mr. Valdez is a native of the San Luis Valley whose family has been in the region for 400 years. He has significant personal experience with water management as he is not only the Vice President of the Rio Grande Water Conservation District but also the longstanding owner and operator of 1500 acres where he raises sheep and cattle.

Rio de la Vista is the Founding Director of the Salazar Rio Grande Del Norte Center at ASU where she is working to address the Rio Grande Natural Area and expanding and enhancing water education on campus and with the community. Prior to her association with ASU, de la Vista was the Associate Director of the Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust for 17 years. She is well known throughout the community for the four decades she has spent spearheading initiatives dedicated to the conservation and preservation of Colorado’s biodiverse wetlands and landscapes.

Structured as a series of seminars, Water 101: Water Essentials will be taught in a highly interactive, seminar style approach designed to offer a strong, comprehensive, historic and contemporary overview of the most important and relevant issue facing not just the San Luis Valley but the entire American West.

It is open to both students enrolled at ASU and those individuals in the community wishing to audit the course in hopes of learning more about this most treasured resource.

Anyone interested in more information should contact Rio de la Vista at the Salazar Rio Grande Del Norte Center at ASU via her email [email protected].


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