Water, geology, energy subject of student symposium

Central Wyoming College students taking water management and environmental geology courses team up to present a symposium Dec. 18 entitled Hydraulic Fracturing: The Intersection of Water, Geology and Energy.

The day-long seminar, held in the CWC Little Theatre, features author Geoff O’Gara, who wrote “What You See in Clear Water: Indian, Whites, and a Battle Over Water in the American West,” and John Fenton, a Pavillion resident who is searching for answers to groundwater contamination.

Students in the Range Ecology and Water Management class, taught by Jacki Klancher, and Environmental Geology, taught by Suki Smaglik deliver presentations on subjects ranging from concerns associated with fresh water use in hydraulic fracturing to a discussion on chemicals and water in well holes.

O’Gara opens the conference at 9 a.m., and is followed by presentations from students Miranda Nading, Mike Garcia, William Hovendick and Austin Buckingham. Fenton rounds out the morning with an 11 a.m. talk on his experience with hydraulic fracturing in his community.

After a complimentary pizza lunch, students Logan Davis, Carissa Hewitt and Armando Ramirez discuss various aspects of water and geology as they relate to energy development. Shai Becker will conclude with a discussion of what the future holds.

Klancher said the event is a tool to help students link classroom learning to contemporary natural resource issues.

The public is invited to participate in the seminar which is preceded by a continental breakfast.