Mojave River Watershed Group Awards award Apple Valley students for science projects

Rene Ray De La Cruz, Victorville Daily Press
·2 min read
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Seventh grader Logan Cataneso, shown here, took home the first place Top Water Award with his project titled, “Homemade Water Filtration System" while sixth grader Natalie Mendoza won the second place award with her project called “Safe Water.”
Seventh grader Logan Cataneso, shown here, took home the first place Top Water Award with his project titled, “Homemade Water Filtration System" while sixth grader Natalie Mendoza won the second place award with her project called “Safe Water.”

Two students earned Top Water Awards at this month’s Apple Valley Unified School District’s science fair.

The awards were given by the Mojave River Watershed Group to students who displayed “exemplary understanding” of water protection and conservation,” the agency said.

Last week, the winning students were recognized by judges, peers and parents at the science fair award ceremony.

“Both students not only demonstrated their ability to approach a worthwhile scientific challenge, but their focus on a water issue showed they are aware of how important it is for us to protect our natural resources,” said Jessica Newton, watershed representative and a judge of the science fair.

Logan Cataneso

Seventh grader Logan Cataneso took home the first place Top Water Award with his project titled, “Homemade Water Filtration System.”

Inspired by his love of the outdoors, Cataneso said he wanted to learn how to filter water using materials sourced outdoors and with common household items in the event of a catastrophe.

He created three variations of water filtration systems using rocks, sand, charcoal, rice, and more. His project recognized the importance of keeping watersheds clean and protected from litter and debris, watershed officials said.

Seventh grader Logan Cataneso, shown here, took home the first place Top Water Award with his project titled, “Homemade Water Filtration System" while sixth grader Natalie Mendoza won the second place award with her project called “Safe Water.”
Seventh grader Logan Cataneso, shown here, took home the first place Top Water Award with his project titled, “Homemade Water Filtration System" while sixth grader Natalie Mendoza won the second place award with her project called “Safe Water.”

Natalie Mendoza

Sixth grader Natalie Mendoza won the second place Top Water Award with her project called “Safe Water,” which demonstrated the dangers that toxic tap water pollution could cause in the local park system.

Mendoza tested the water for traces of toxic substances and chemicals such as lead and alkalinity, providing another example of the importance of protecting the High Desert’s major water source, the Mojave River Watershed.

Scientific challenge

Over 100 fourth through eighth-grade students produced science, art, engineering and reverse engineering projects.

The watershed group provides High Desert schools with an in-class Enviroscape tool, a water pollution demonstration for fourth through eighth-grade students in the Town of Apple Valley, and the cities of Hesperia and Victorville.

The watershed group offers additional resources such as a campus garden guide, eco-friendly DIY videos, and tip card handouts to help the High Desert community participate in protecting the Mojave River Watershed.

For more information on the Mojave River Watershed Group, visit mojaveriver.org.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Apple Valley students earn awards from Mojave River Watershed Group