University of Idaho sustainability office receives 2025 Palouse Basin Water Advocate Award

MOSCOW, Idaho — University of Idaho’s Office of Sustainability received the 2025 Palouse Basin Water Advocate Award for its leadership in conserving water and advancing long-term water security across the Palouse.

The award, presented at the annual Palouse Basin Water Summit this fall, recognizes the university’s new Water Conservation and Management Plan — a campus-wide roadmap developed with the Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee (PBAC), the city of Moscow and other regional partners. The plan outlines practical steps to reduce indoor and outdoor water use, strengthen campus infrastructure and expand community education.

“Well levels in the Palouse Basin have been declining for more than a century, and we all share responsibility for protecting this resource,” said Sarah Dawson, U of I sustainability director. “This plan helps us do our part while supporting the broader regional effort to ensure a sustainable water future.”

PBAC Executive Director Mike Faupel, who nominated the office for the award, said the university stood out for its collaborative, research-driven approach.

“Water touches nearly everything people do,” Faupel said. “U of I is stepping forward, taking responsibility and helping the whole region plan for a sustainable future.”

U of I’s Sustainability Office led development of the plan in coordination with U of I Facility Services, academic experts and community partners. Key contributors included Lee Espey, associate vice president for operations, and Madison Dougherty, a doctoral student and graduate sustainability assistant in the Office of Sustainability, who were major authors of the plan. Dawson said several recommendations are already underway, including: 

• Installing WaterSense-certified fixtures in kitchens, bathrooms and other water-using spaces.
• Adding dual-flush systems in existing restrooms to reduce indoor water use.
• Updating pool maintenance procedures to avoid draining hundreds of thousands of gallons each year.
• Expanding conservation outreach, including shared messaging with Moscow, Pullman, Washington State University and local businesses.
• Launching Water Week, a new event led by the Sustainability Center to highlight conservation across the Palouse.

The plan also calls for more native landscaping, infrastructure upgrades and a coordinated emergency water strategy.

“We’re committed to reducing our own use and helping our neighbors do the same,” Dawson said. “Water is the foundation of life on the Palouse — and we’re focused on protecting it.”

For more information about U of I’s sustainability efforts, visit uidaho.edu/sustainability.

Media contact

Sarah Dawson
University of Idaho Sustainability Director
208-310-5985
sdawson@uidaho.edu