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EDUCATION Water Exhibits Make a Big regional water issues, and represents an Splash in San Antonio exceptional collaboration of regional agencies and universities, working Carla Bitter – SAHRA, University of Arizona cooperatively and providing funding and If you find yourself in San Antonio, expertise to tell the true story of water in and are interested in how cutting-edge South Texas. Among the many partners technology, water education, and multiple are the San Antonio Water System, San water management agencies are working Antonio River Authority, Edwards Aquifer together in South Texas, you may want Authority, Guadalupe-Blanco River A schematic of the San Antonio River, from to pay a visit to the Witte Museum. The Authority, University of Texas at Austin, its source, through San Antonio, to the Gulf World of Water exhibit, which debuted University of Texas at San Antonio, of Mexico. and University of the Incarnate Word. last May, was the first stage in the San Antonio River including the River Witte Museum’s new focus on water, Alive! touch tank where the actual river The University of Texas at San Antonio science, and South Texas heritage. The and its inhabitants are cycled in and out built a working water tower for the exhibit serves as a prototype for the of the tank for up-close investigations. future Water Resource Center to be built exhibit that also featured water-saving household tips at the San Antonio Water in 2008 on the Witte campus, along From inside the museum’s H-E-B Science Conservation House and state-of-the-art the banks of the San Antonio River. Treehouse, visitors can also view the satellite imaging to help visitors learn underwater River Cam, installed near a about the watershed area near their homes. The Water Resource Center will provide timed feeder that attracts a wide variety The museum’s Web site contains a variety a venue for discussing and learning about of aquatic life. The Science Treehouse is of excellent educational materials for also home to a huge interactive map of teachers and students to complement the San Antonio River and the watershed the exhibits or to use in the classroom. and houses a locally produced weather video, “Flash Flood Alley,” which aims Although the main exhibit, viewed by to educate visitors about avoiding this over 150,000 visitors, closed on Jan. 1, phenomenon. New permanent signs on plenty of innovative water exhibits remain the three levels of the Treehouse and at the Witte. The second phase of the along the river have been installed to Witte Museum’s World of Water features help visitors identify the many local a new, interactive component, World of plants and animals of the watershed. Water: Take It to the River!, sponsored by the San Antonio River Authority. The Witte Museum is located at 3801 Broadway, San This hands-on exhibit illustrates the Antonio, Texas. For more information, visit Visitors investigate at River Alive!, a station at www.wittemuseum.org or call 210-357-1900. the Witte’s World of Water exhibit. history of water use and life along the January/February 2006 • Southwest Hydrology • 39.