USU to be part of $2 billion project
Utah State University has been chosen to work with the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Integrated Water and Coastal Resources Management Program on a project with a $2 billion potential.
USU, along with USAID and other universities and companies, will work together to improve life in the developing world through better water management, said Chris Fawson, vice provost for academic and international affair. Because of the large spectrum of need, the International Resources Group professional firm and water resource firm Tetra Tech, joined forces to bring in other companies and universities to focus on meeting USAID needs.
According to the IRG-Tetra Tech Joint Venture Web site other universities involved include Michigan State University, University of Washington, University of Massachusetts and Utah State University. USU was chosen because of its water resource capabilities, irrigation qualifications, quality planning, river basin management, knowledge of legal aspects of water use, management of natural resources and land and its 50 years of experience around the world.
The focus of the group venture will be to improve life through better water management, irrigation and other water related issues. USU will receive assignments from USAID according to the need seen on USAID missions.
Although the task orders will not be written to directly involve students, Fawson said graduate students may be involved, as well as undergraduate students if their professors are.
“USU always tries to involve students,” Fawson said.
Faculty from the biological and irrigation engineering departments will likely take part in the venture as will the Utah Water Research Lab, other scientists and social scientists and even economists and sociologists, he said.
Projects and assignments may be similar to a current USU project in the Dominican Republic. The university is working with water user groups in the country to help them better manage water irrigation resources, design water systems, as well as training citizens on legal water issues, Fawson said. They have also built new canals and organized farmers into water user associations to manage and maintain their own systems, Wynn said.
The $2 billion contract will last at least five years, and could be indefinite, Fawson said. The invitation to participate in the venture shows that USU’s water expertise is recognized by the outside world.
“The joint venture partnership was put together from groups that have the strongest reputation in water resource issues throughout the world,” Fawson said.
And USU’s water reputation goes back to the beginning of the university’s existence. As early as 1892, when the university was organized, its main purpose was “to train practical folks to defeat the desert,” said Wynn Walker, associate dean of college of engineering. Later, around 1903 when the United States was heavily involved in expansion out West, Cache Valley provided many key resources concerning irrigation.
In the 1950s, the university was one of the first universities contracted by the government to help developing countries water systems. Since then, USU has helped roughly half of the countries in the world, Wynn said. It wouldn’t be surprising if some of the upcoming projects were in the Middle East, Wynn said, because of the political interest in the area and the need to provide food security.
Water issues are growing in importance, Wynn said, because it’s predicted that over the next few years 80 percent of the world’s food supply will come from irrigation. Fawson said he hopes the joint venture with USAID can be an ongoing relationship.
“It’s a great mission we’ve had and have,” Wynn said. “And, the university has a lot of name recognition throughout the world because of it.”
-hilaryi@cc.usu.edu