Master Watershed Steward Program

Transcription

1 Master Watershed Steward Program Erin Frederick Statewide Master Watershed Steward Coordinator Kristen Kyler Statewide Master Watershed Steward Steering Committee Diane Oleson Penn State Extension, York County Extension.psu.edu/master-watershed-stewards

2 Program Origins Many watershed associations struggle to retain and recruit volunteers With funding cuts to conservation organizations, there s not enough professional staff to protect our natural resources As of 2012, 16,599 impaired stream miles in PA; stormwater responsible for 4,170 miles

3 Program Origins Pilot program launched in 2013 in Lehigh & Northampton counties Extension formed strong partnership with local conservation districts and local environmental organizations

4 Program Requirements - Training Volunteers receive 40 hours of training in water and natural resources- classroom and field trips

5 Program Requirements - Training Programs use statewide manual with key learning objectives to structure their trainings

6 Program Requirements - Volunteering After training, volunteers need to secure 50 hours of volunteer service and complete a group project Once they complete their first 50 hours, they are officially Master Watershed Stewards

7 Program Requirements - Volunteering To maintain their title, they need to secure 20 hours of volunteer service and 10 hours of continuing education each year

8 Example Projects Educational workshops for the public, school groups, municipal officials Staffing displays at community events Riparian buffer restoration projects in partnership with county conservation districts

9 Example Volunteer Projects Build demonstration rain gardens at municipal buildings Water Quality Sampling

10 Statewide Status MWS Program is now offered or will soon be offered in 13 counties Pending: Beaver, Erie, Philadelphia

11 Partnership Example: York County Partners: Watershed Alliance of York York County Conservation District Penn State Extension York County Community Foundation York County Parks York County Planning Commission York Water Company Shank s Mare Aquatic Resource Restoration Company Stroud Water Resource Center Dover Twp Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper Pennsylvania Sea Grant PA Game Commission Jones Geological Services C.S. Davidson Tetra Tech, Inc. Penn State Pest Ed. Department PA DCNR NRCS

12 Support York County Community Foundation, Codorus Creek Fund Grant to MWS program $23,500 in 2017 and 2018 York CCD and WAY helped get the program launched in o o Partners and WAY Board host training sites and teach MWS participate in education, cleanups, riparian planting Work with municipalities to see how the stewards can help with education and outreach for stormwater runoff

13 York County Impacts Floating Island planting Since active MWS volunteers Volunteered 1660 hrs Have made 5556 contacts Educational exhibits - Youth outreach at local libraries, York Co. Envirothon, Audubon s Learn, Explore, Restore our Watershed, Lincolnway Elementary, Bay Day, 4H Camp and more Stream clean-ups Active stream monitoring group Partnered with the University of Nebraska to do Atrazine testing in the Susquehanna Stream monitoring

14 Municipal Partnerships Red Lion Borough Windsor Township City of York Shrewsbury Township Hellam Township Lower Windsor Township Wrightsville Borough MonoghanTownship Newberry Township W. Manchester Township Bantz Park Raingarden Cabin Creek Watershed Event

15 Final thoughts MWS is a great program Must have CCD, a watershed group Local monetary support for coordinator, projects Positive effect on local conservation groups Goal to bring in new volunteers, energy Making connections across groups

16

17 The Expansion Problem Each program needs a coordinator A minimum of $10,000 needed per year Grants are limited and only a short term solution

18 Can you help? Master Watershed Stewards can provide water quality benefits and help meet MS4 requirements Luzerne County Example o PA American Water o Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority

19 Questions? Erin Frederick Statewide Master Watershed Steward Coordinator Kristen Kyler Statewide Master Watershed Steward Steering Committee Penn State Ag and Environment Center Diane Oleson Penn State Extension, York County