Upper San Gabriel Valley MWD Grant Program Helps Fund Water-Wise Vegetable Garden by Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District Jun 2, 2021 Member Submitted News MONROVIA — Dr. Anthony Fellow, board director for the Upper San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (Upper District), presented Dr. Greg Gero, principal of Plymouth Elementary School, with a $1,000 grant for the school’s water-wise vegetable garden. This grant is one of 22 water-related school projects awarded under the Upper District’s Water Education Grant Program (WEGP). Every year, WEGP provides funding of up to $1,000 for educators to help implement water projects and programs into their classroom curriculum. Any K-12th grade school within Upper District’s service area is eligible to apply for a grant. Projects must focus on water-related subjects that further students’ understanding of environmental issues, water sustainability, and the vital role water plays within our region and State. This year the Board of Directors awarded over $16,500 to help fund 22 classroom projects throughout the San Gabriel Valley. “Plymouth Elementary School has done an incredible job in incorporating water efficiency throughout the school. The water efficient vegetable garden is just one example of their holistic approach towards science and hands-on learning,” said Director Fellow. “I’m very proud of the work Plymouth school had done to promote water awareness remain committed to supporting innovative conservation projects for our students.” Located in the city of Monrovia, Plymouth Elementary School partnered with Food ED, a Monrovia-based nonprofit that specializes in gardening and food science curriculum, to construct the Plymouth Veggie Garden. The new vegetable garden ties in science, water use efficiency, and promotes healthy living and ecosystem awareness to its students. The project, which recently broke ground, features six raised beds made from reclaimed pine felled in the San Gabriel Valley and has two beds that are ADA accessible. The funds from the education grant will be used towards installing a water-efficient irrigation system for the project. Students will learn how to properly water gardens and how water is essential to eating and growing. “We’ve worked hard to create an environment that embraces our natural resources as interactive learning lessons,” stated Dr. Gero. “Having our students tend to these gardens will develop their awareness of our food supply and the resources needed to grow our food. We are very appreciative of Director Fellow’s support for this project.” Upper District’s mission is to provide a reliable, sustainable, diversified, and affordable portfolio of high-quality water supplies to the San Gabriel Valley; including water conservation, recycled water, storm water capture, storage, water transfers and imported water. Upper District services nearly one million people in its 144 square mile service territory. Governed by a five-member elected board of directors, Upper District is a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Annually, more than 78 billion gallons of water is used in Upper District’s service area. For more information about Upper District, please visit our website www.upperdistrict.org or call 626-443-2297.