Advice from Owlie – What’s an aquifer?

 Q: Dear Owlie,

This week in school we learned more about aquifers. I think aquifers are really interesting and I want to teach my brothers and sisters about them at home! Do you have any resources that can help me demonstrate how an aquifer works? Thanks Owlie!

Sincerely, 

Amazing Aquifers

A: Dear Amazing Aquifers,

I am happy to hear that you enjoyed learning about aquifers and want to teach your family about them. First, I’ll start by giving a brief introduction to what an aquifer is. An aquifer is an underground layer of rocks and soil holding water. Aquifers can be just a few feet under the soil or can sit hundreds of feet deep.

 We have an At-Home Activity that will demonstrate how an aquifer works. Our Edible Aquifer activity is a perfect way for you to learn all about aquifers and make your own yummy aquifer that you can eat after! This activity can be delicious, but please get permission from your parents or guardians before using any food products. It can be found here, on our YouTube page.

For this activity, you will need:

• 
  Edible aquifer visual aid
• Vanilla ice cream
• Clear soda
• Crushed chocolate cookies
• Sprinkles
• Gummy bears
• Drinking straws
• Spoons
• Clear cups
• Trash bags
• Paper towels

The cup represents the basin. The materials that go inside of the cup represent rainwater, grass, gravel and soil, clay, rock, and water! Watch our YouTube video to see how it all comes together to demonstrate how an aquifer works.

I hope you enjoy this tasty activity while you teach your family about aquifers!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice from Owlie - Education Newsletters

Hi friends, I have an exciting announcement!
We started an Education Newsletter! The CCW Quarterly is the official education newsletter released quarterly by the Inland Empire Utilities Agency. Each edition includes education program updates, water awareness activities, blog posts, educational resources, and more. The CCW Quarterly Newsletter can be found on the IEUA website. We now have three editions for the months of July 2021,  October 2021 and January 2022.

We have many fun activities, including word scrambles, word searches, a coloring sheet, and more! You can download each one on our website. Don’t forget to send a picture of your completed activity to @ieuawater on Instagram to win a prize!

I hope you enjoy our newsletters and all the activity sheet inside!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice from Owlie – Black Crowned Night Heron

Q: Dear Owlie,

I have been really interested in learning about birds lately! Can you teach me about a bird that can be found at the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park? Thanks, Owlie!

Sincerely,

Blue Bird

 

A: Dear Blue Bird,

 I would be happy to teach you about one of the many birds we have at the park! Today, let’s learn about the Black Crowned Night Heron! If you want to learn more about the other birds we have at the park, check out our previous blog posts or our Instagram @chinocreekwetlands.

The Black Crowned Night Heron is one of the few species of Herons that can be found at the park. While visiting the park, you may see not only the Black Crowned Night Heron, but the Great Blue Heron or Green Heron too! To tell the difference between this heron and other herons, remember this species has black on their heads and down their back, like the name “Black Crowned” says. These are shorter birds and often can be found sitting perched in the ponds. When Black Crowned Night Herons fly, they tilt their head which makes it look like they do not have a neck. This species of heron can be found in wetlands throughout North America.

Keep an eye out for the Black Crowned Night Heron on your next visit to the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice from Owlie – California Buckwheat

Q: Dear Owlie,

I recently visited the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park. There were so many really cool plants, but one specifically stood out to me. It was red AND white, and it had what looked like little bunches of flowers. The last time I was at the park, I remember seeing it, but it was only a dark red color. 

Now, it looks a little different, but I know it is the same plant. Do you know what plant this is Owlie?

Sincerely,

Plant Power

A: Dear Plant Power,

I agree, there are so many amazing plants in the park! We have 1.7 miles of trails with about 22,000 various water-wise plants throughout the park.

The one you are referring to sounds like California Buckwheat! California Buckwheat is a water-wise plant species that is native to California. As you mentioned, this plant can look different in each season.

In the summer and fall when it is hot and dry out, it can be seen looking mostly dark red (pictured in the top left circle). Sometimes it will have a few white flowers, but not as many as it has during the spring. Towards the end of fall and winter, it can be seen as dark red and white, just as you described (pictured in the middle circle). During the end of winter and through spring, it can be seen looking mostly white and pink (pictured in the top right circle).

Butterflies and bees love California Buckwheat! You can find them on California Buckwheat throughout the year, but will see a lot of them during the springtime when its flowers are white and pink.

This is a really cool plant to keep an eye out for as you visit the park throughout each season to watch it change colors!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

 

Advice from Owlie –What’s a watershed?

Q: Dear Owlie,

I recently learned a little bit about what a watershed is! I found it so interesting to learn about, but I am having a little trouble fully understanding them. Do you know of any activities I can do at home to help me understand watersheds better? Thanks Owlie!

Sincerely,

                                                          Watershed Wonderer

A: Dear Watershed Wonderer,

I am so happy that you learned what a watershed is and want to know more! For our friends who may not be too sure what a watershed is, it is any area of land that drains into a lake, river, or ocean! Watersheds also include all of the people, houses, farms, roads, factories, animals, mountains, and deserts. Here at the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park, we are part of the Santa Ana River Watershed.

We have an At Home Activity that teaches all about watersheds. Our Enviroscape activity is a perfect way for you to learn all about watersheds and make your own! It can be found here, on our YouTube page.

This activity will guide you through how pollutants, anything that is added to the environment and can be harmful, move through our watersheds.

To do this activity, you will need:

• Aluminum foil
• Different sized cups
• A medium sized plastic container
• 2 different colored Kool-Aid mixes
• Chocolate sprinkles
• A spray bottle
• Markers
• Paper towels

You can find a printout of a watershed to color and label on our website if you would like to follow along this way instead.

Did you know that everything that we do impacts our watershed? That’s why it is so important to pick up our trash and keep harmful chemicals out of our water to keep it clean!

I hope you have lots of fun doing this activity and learning about watersheds!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice from Owlie - A Walk in the Park

Q: Dear Owlie,

My family and I are planning another trip out to the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park soon! I am so excited to spend time outside, and I love seeing all of the plants and birds in the park! What is your favorite part of the park Owlie?

Sincerely,

Eager Explorer

A: Dear Eager Explorer,

I am so happy you and your family are going to visit the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park! There is always so much to see while visiting.

My favorite part of the park? That’s definitely a hard one! I agree that I love seeing all my animal friends in the park and all the beautiful plants too, but I also enjoy relaxing in different areas of the park! Some of my favorite spots are the Pipe Garden, Observation Tower and Watershed Bridge. Today I am going to tell you about the Watershed Bridge.

The Watershed Bridge is a demonstration of how water falls from the top of the watershed (mountains) to the end of the watershed into the ocean (water). This is a perfect spot to stop and watch the birds and ducks from afar!

Did you know that September 25 is National Public Lands Day? That would be a perfect day for you and your family to visit the park!

I hope you enjoy your visit, and say hi to all of my animal friends for me!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie

Advice From Owlie - World Water Week

Q: Dear Owlie,

I just went back to school, and we are learning about wetlands! My teacher taught us that wetlands can help make water clean. I really enjoyed learning about this, and wanted to ask if you can tell me more about it?

Sincerely,

Wetland Warrior

A: Dear Wetland Warrior,

I love talking about wetlands! I am excited to hear that you are learning about them in school. Before we talk about how wetlands keep water clean, let’s remind our friends what a wetland is. A wetland is an area characterized by the existence of water, soil and vegetation (plants). Wetlands can be both wet and dry. 

It’s perfect timing that you bring this up because August 23-27 is World Water Week! Wetlands provide many services that help our environment such as providing a habitat for wildlife, act as a resting point for migratory birds and storing floodwaters. For now, we are going to focus in on how they help keep our water clean. 

Wetlands act as natural filtration systems. They can trap and neutralize sewage waste as well as help break down toxic substances. The plants found in wetlands absorb nutrients and make sure the environment does not reach toxic levels. This helps keep a safe and clean environment for us and the wildlife that live in wetlands. 

Another way wetlands help our water supply, is by acting like a big sponge. Wetlands soak up water and slow the water flow to prevent flooding. This also helps silt settle out of the water.

Now when you visit our Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park, you can tell your friends and family all about how wetlands help keep water clean!

Talk to you all soo(HOO)n!

Owlie