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University Relations 202 Eielson Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-7520
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Fairbanks, Alaska - The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs along with the University of Alaska Fairbanks Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering began a three-week Water Resources Technician Training Program on the UAF campus yesterday, July 12.

According to Mo Baloch, BIA Program Administrator in Washington, DC., the program will cover physical, environmental, legal and cultural aspects of water resources. Students will also be introduced to specific topics such as the Clean Water Act, waste water treatment operations, groundwater protection, public water supply, hazardous waste, basics of fish and wildlife biology, hatchery operations and principles of stream flow and stream flow measurements.

The Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey and the BIA along with UAF will provide the expertise, curriculum design and the actual classroom instruction. Fairbanks BIA Area Superintendent Sam Demientieff is providing overall logistics and oversight in conjunction with the university for the training program.

"We recognize the need for water resource management expertise on Native lands by Native people. The BIA is committed to expanding the program as part of the Bureau's effort to promote tribal self sufficiency by enabling tribes to perform their planning, management and development of their natural resources," said Terry Virden, director of the BIA's Office of Trust Responsibilities. "The program provides tribal governments their own experts who have an intimate knowledge of the land and deep commitment to improving the quality of life for their people."

Program Facilitator Joanne Gustafson, a UAF natural resource management major from Arctic Village, participated in an earlier model of the program at the Cispus Learning Center in Washington state. "This is a great way to expose students to any scientific field and it really opened up opportunities and gave me direction here at UAF since I attended the training," Gustafson said.

Twelve students have been selected who have either a high school diploma or GED and an endorsement from a federally recognized tribal entity in Alaska such as a village or regional Native corporation. The program is funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior.

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CONTACT: BIA Program Administrator Mo Baloch 202-208-6042, or UAF Program Facilitator Joanne Gustafson 907-474-6886, or by email: fyrahi@aurora.alaska.edu.

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Last modified June 16, 1998