$60K Awarded to Students Focused on Protecting Southern California’s Signature River

VENTURA COUNTY, Calif.— The Utom Conservation Fund, a bunch of cultural and environmental organizations, has awarded $60,000 in scholarships and fellowships to college students devoted to the conservation of the Santa Clara River, often known as Utom.

5 undergraduate college students obtained scholarships of $2,000 every and 4 graduate college students obtained fellowships of $12,500 every to additional their research and analysis in watershed and environmental safety.

Utom is a 116-mile river that flows from the Angeles Nationwide Forest in northern Los Angeles County to Ventura County, the place it empties into the Pacific Ocean. The Chumash individuals named it Utom, or Phantom River, as a result of water circulate can come and go like a phantom. The watershed is residence to greater than 110 special-status species, together with California red-legged frogs, arroyo toads and unarmored threespine sticklebacks.

“The way forward for this biologically numerous watershed depends upon the dedication of devoted scientists and activists like these college students,” mentioned Peter Galvin, cofounder and director of applications on the Middle for Organic Range. “As California enters its fourth consecutive yr of a extreme drought, it’s extra vital than ever to spend money on methods to maintain this particular river flowing in its pure state.”

The 9 recipients are college students from schools and universities throughout Southern California. 4 graduate college students who’re pursuing their grasp’s diploma or doctorate, with analysis tasks particular to Utom, have been chosen.

“It’s an honor to obtain the Utom Conservation Fund Fellowship, which is able to help my doctoral analysis on how altering flows alongside the Utom River have an effect on individuals and biodiversity,” mentioned Melissa von Mayrhauser, a fellowship recipient finding out environmental science, coverage and administration at UC Berkley. “I hope this analysis will present native companions with worthwhile knowledge and help future restoration efforts on this beloved Southern California watershed within the ancestral homelands of the Chumash individuals.”

Additionally receiving a fellowship are: Rachel Bockrath, who’s finding out biology at Cal State Polytechnic College in Pomona; Noah Szceszinksi, who’s finding out biology and plant ecology at Cal State Polytechnic College, Pomona; and Lyna Ngor, who’s finding out environmental science and entomology at UC Riverside.

The 5 scholarship recipients are undergraduate college students who present ardour and dedication for shielding the atmosphere and the Utom watershed. They’re: Misheel Unur and Caroline Shoemake from Faculty of the Canyons, Sarah Azzoto from Cal State College Northridge, Claire Kosek from Occidental Faculty and Kenna Gonzales from UC Berkeley.

“Our tribe is proud to assist these distinctive college students pursue their academic targets by means of scholarships and fellowships from the Utom Conservation Fund,” mentioned Kenneth Kahn, Tribal chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. “We’re impressed by their ardour for the atmosphere and hope their research lead to new insights on how finest to guard the Utom River and the encompassing panorama.”

The Utom Conservation Fund Scholarship and Fellowship is managed by the Middle, Wishtoyo Chumash Basis, Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and the California Native Plant Society. The Utom Conservation Fund was established with settlement cash from litigation to guard this distinctive watershed.