94-12 From Streams to Solutions: Community Engagement in Water Quality Monitoring and Sustainable Development

Session: Geoscience and Water: How Geoscience Affects Water-Related Public Policy–Past, Present, and Future

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Geoscientists help bridge the public policy gap, maintaining the connection between science and society. One significant method connecting science and society is the implementation of community science initiatives, to address geoscience problems. In Oklahoma, a water-quality community science project was established. Data collected through the project not only educates and empowers communities but also supplements state efforts, informing local decision-making processes around water resource management. The project contributes to addressing United Nations (U.N.) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 6, and includes on-site field measurements, in addition to developing interactive, accessible digital learning modules, to increase accessibility. This Oklahoma-based project highlights how geoscience driven community science can generate actionable data, foster environmental literacy, and directly support sustainable water practices at both local and global levels. The science-policy interface is strengthened by empowering communities to participate in water monitoring, and models a scalable approach to achieving water-related sustainability goals.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-10667

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