The Confluence Project
The Confluence Project
The Confluence Project (TCP) is a yearlong program pairing scientific experts with high schools across Idaho. With over 400 participants every year, TCP connects students to Idaho’s lakes, streams, mountains and aquifers through a combination of on-site studies and classroom work. Throughout the school year, TCP teachers introduce water resource issues in the classroom and guide their students in a comprehensive research project. During multiple field excursions, students collect and analyze local water resource data. In the spring, they develop a driving question related to a real-world water resource issue, thoroughly research, collect data and propose a relevant solution.
Southern Idaho Expansion
In the 2025-2026 school year, IWRRI partnered with Extension Water Outreach to pilot TCP with five high school environmental science classes in the Treasure Valley. Local partners include Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Ada County, Ada Soil & Water Conservation District, City of Boise, Bogus Basin, NRCS, Idaho Rural Water Association and more.
Southwest Idaho field trip sites include the Boise River, Indian Creek, Grimes Creek, City of Boise Phosphorous Removal Facility, Boise Diversion Dam, Bogus Basin, Mores Creek Summit, Hubbard Reservoir, and local farms.
North Idaho
Since 2013 partners from the University of Idaho – IWRRI and IdaH2O, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, Panhandle Health, NRCS, and the Basin Environmental Improvement Project Commission have teamed up to promote hands-on experience, field data collection and higher education degrees in the natural sciences in North Idaho.
The Youth Water Summit
The Confluence Project culminates in the Youth Water Summit, a chance for students to dig deeper into local water issues and experience a professional scientific conference. Students in the North and South Idaho TCP programs present their research projects at regional Youth Water Summits. More than 80 volunteer judges from the scientific community contribute to the success and growth of this event.
“The Confluence Project changed my whole perspective on science and the environment. It’s so beneficial for students.”
– Toni Eells
Toni Eells earned first place at the 2015 Youth Water Summit and is now studying environmental science at U of I. She returned to support the conference as an intern in 2019.
Volunteer with the Confluence Project
TCP is truly a community-led effort requiring the assistance, expertise and passion of hundreds of volunteers every year. If you have experience in environmental science, water quality issues or other applicable fields and would like to support TCP during field trips or as a summit judge, fill out one of the following forms to indicate your interest:
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- Our Gem Article
OUR GEM: Local Students Find Excitement with Hands-On Science
by Woody Wood, IWRRI Education and Outreach Coordinator It’s a cool fall morning, and I’m standing at the intersection of Burnt Cabin and Ohio Match Roads waiting for a bus load of Venture Academy students to arrive. While I wait here with my colleagues, travelers stop and ask why we have dozens of pairs of rubber boots lined up next to our vehicles. We tell them about the incoming students and the work they are about to do, and they… -
- News
University of Idaho and North Idaho College Team Up to Celebrate Youth Scientific Leaders
The University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene’s Idaho Water Resources Research Institute (IWRRI) partnered with North Idaho College (NIC) to celebrate the winners of the 2025 Youth Water Summit. This annual event empowers high school students to investigate and address real-world water issues in their communities through hands-on research, innovation, and public presentation. -
Mike ‘Woody’ Wood
Outreach & Ed. Coordinator
Harbor Center, Coeur d’Alene
mikewood@uidaho.edu
Christa Howarth
Extension Water Educator
Idaho Water Center, Boise
chowarth@uidaho.edu