Washington State University Extension’s Beach Watchers program is this year’s winner of the Education and Public Service award from the national Universities Council on Water Resources.

The award will be presented at the group’s national conference in Seattle in mid-July.

“This is fuel in the tank for the nearly 1,000 volunteers we have on board helping to educate our Puget Sound community about cleaning up Puget Sound and saving the life that depends on clean waters,” said Don Meehan, WSU Extension program director for natural resources stewardship.

UCOWR is made up of more than 90 member universities and organizations throughout the world, and the council promotes education and research efforts on water-related issues.