UGA 2014 Campus Sustainability Report UGA 2014 Campus Sustainability Report | Page 32

UGA Law Environmental Practicum

The Environmental Practicum, an interdisciplinary program through the UGA School of Law and Odum School of Ecology,
offers an experiential learning program for graduate students interested in environmental preservation. Students in
the Environmental Practicum work to improve water quality and protect and restore native aquatic species in targeted
watersheds. In FY14 practicum students had an indelible and positive impact on UGA campus watersheds through
detecting sewer line leaks and working with county officials to remedy concerns quickly, continuing community outreach
campaigns to encourage collection of pet wastes and other water quality best management practices, and changing local
legislation to allow prescribed grazing to restore native ecosystems. Significant off-campus contributions in FY14 include
a proposal that received $500,000 in grant funding from the Coca-Cola Foundation to build and monitor constructed
wetlands to remove pharmaceuticals and other contaminants on the Cumberland Plateau in Sewanee, Tennessee, and
FY15 practicum students will design a public education and social marketing campaign around the pilot wetlands.