A U of A Communication course is making waves in Northwest Arkansas through a service-learning partnership with the Beaver Watershed Alliance, empowering students to promote watershed sustainability through community research and public engagement.

This spring students enrolled in the Environmental Adaptations course in the Communication Department collaborated with the Beaver Watershed Alliance to bring awareness of Smart Growth water source practices to the community. Students helped design and distribute a visual preference survey collecting responses from community areas located in the source waters of Beaver Lake. The survey, which focused on the Beaver and Illinois watershed areas, was designed to collect community feedback and encourage local support for sustainable water management.

The 10-question survey prompted scenarios such as, "Which yard looks appealing and is beneficial to rain runoff?" or "Which urban area would you prefer for taking your family on a walk?"

For each question, participants selected one of three photographs, each representing a different level of sustainability in land use and water runoff. The students' objectives were to gather public consensus in sustainable water source practices and to increase public awareness toward best water management in land use in the headwaters leading into Beaver Lake. Their goal was to obtain 600 responses and analyze the data for the April 2 Smart Growth for Water Resources Conference for the Beaver Watershed Alliance.

The students exceeded their goals by collecting over 860 responses. The results were overwhelming, with 87% of the general public participants selecting images that aligned with best practices in water conservation. According to the Smart Growth Committee, the impact from these findings were inspiring due to the general population's preferences aligned with water source experts' recommendation for sustainable source water protection. The results of the survey demonstrated that sustainable source water practices and aesthetic appeal do align toward Smart Growth practices.

Students presented their findings to the Beaver Watershed Alliance and Smart Growth Committee and were later invited to showcase their work at the regional Smart Growth Conference. Their presentation emphasized how the data gathered from public input can inform city planners, developers and policymakers about community-supported approaches to best water management practices in sustainable development.

In recognition of these students' successful efforts in this project, they were awarded a Certificate of Excellence from the Beaver Watershed Alliance, affirming their impact both in the classroom and in the field.

Liz Tilbury, one of the students in this course, said, "This project opened my eyes to how valuable local engagement can be in driving environmental change. I never expected to become passionate about watershed sustainability, but this class helped me see how effective communication can make a real-world difference."

By emphasizing experiential learning and civic engagement, the Environmental Adaptation course empowered students to use their strategic message design and public outreach to address pressing environmental challenges in Arkansas and beyond. Thank you for your time.