Ideal Project Summary

IDEAL PROJECT SUMMARY

The Project Summary is the narrative that will appear below the photographs for your project in the Project Bank. The ideal summary will be from 175-300 words, although your summary may be as long as 400 words. When you are writing your summary, keep in mind that your narrative should not be too technical, should appeal to potential corporate funders, and should accurately reflect the project and likely outcomes. Describe who is leading the project, where it takes place, who is involved, what you plan to do, and the benefits you anticipate the project will provide to the identified waterbody and/or community. This description is how your project will be presented in the Project Bank—make sure it succinctly and sufficiently describes the project and the benefits and impact it will provide. The following Project Summary is an example of a well-written, appealing 180 word narrative.

Example:

The Pajaro River Valley, spanning the Santa Cruz-Monterey County line, drains into Monterey Bay, which is home to hundreds of species of fish and birds in addition to sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters. The valley also boasts some of the most productive farmland in the nation. The Pajaro Valley and the surrounding region are largely dependent on groundwater for its farming and urban needs, however the area’s underlying aquifer is annually overdrawn by over three billion gallons.

The ongoing withdrawal of groundwater causes saltwater from nearby Monterey Bay to steadily seep inland, threatening farming production and communities who rely on groundwater for drinking. This project utilizes information technology to help farmers reduce their water use while maintaining agricultural production. The use of flow meters, data loggers, and field soil moisture sensors will help farmers apply irrigation water in accordance with crop needs allowing local farms to conserve water and reduce groundwater pumping by up to 20%.  More efficient irrigation applications result in reductions in runoff that can carry fertilizer, which will also play an important part in protecting water quality in the Pajaro River and nearby Monterey Bay.