Transcript Document

Partnerships, Practices, Curriculum,
and Outreach Education for
Groundwater Protection
PENN STATE EXTENSION PESTICIDE EDUCATION PROGRAM
& MASTER WATERSHED STEWARD PROGRAM
MASTER WATERSHED STEWARD
PROGRAM
Program Origins
• Over 400 community watershed associations
across PA; many of them struggle to retain
and recruit volunteers
• Funding cuts to conservation organizations
• As of 2012, 16,599 impaired stream miles in
PA; stormwater responsible for 4,170 miles
Program Origins
• Inspired by the Master Gardener Program
• Last year, 2,374 MGs across the state
contributed 142,509 volunteer hours
reaching 474,953 residents directly. Value of
their time $3 million.
• Master Gardener program has a waiting list of
volunteers.
Program Origins
• Other land grant university’s have Master
Watershed Steward or Master Naturalist
programs
• Texas and Florida, the country’s largest
programs, have over 8,000 and 5,000 trained
volunteers already!
• PA’s is modeled after the PA MG program.
Program Origins
• Pilot program launched in 2013 in Lehigh &
Northampton counties
• Partners: Watershed Coalition of the Lehigh
Valley, Northampton County Conservation
District, Appalachian Mountain Club, Lehigh
Gap Nature Center, Nurture Nature Center,
Wildlands Conservancy, DCNR
Program Requirements
• Volunteers receive 40 hours of training in
water and natural resources
Training
Program Requirements
• 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
• To maintain their title, they need to secure 20
hours of volunteer service and 10 hours of
continuing education each year
Group Project Examples
• Aquaponics Display
and Curriculum
• Backyard Stormwater
Management Display
• Build demonstration
rain gardens at
municipal buildings
• Groundwater
Education Model
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
• Water Quality Sampling
Current Snapshot
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35 volunteers
1,042 hours to date, reaching 1,505 people
Lehigh/Northampton
Launching in Montgomery County in Fall
Pending: York, Chester, Bucks, Berks, Monroe,
Delaware
Going Forward
• Integrate with municipalities and the counties
to satisfy MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm
Sewer Systems) requirements
• Integrate with community groups
• Develop curriculum to grow throughout the
state
Penn State
Pesticide Education Program
• We educate applicators and users about
pest management alternatives, including
the safe, proper, and legal use of
pesticides. Responsible decision-making
protects pesticide users, the public,
plants, animals, and the environment.
Who are our Stakeholders?
Who are our Stakeholders?
Who are our Stakeholders?
Who are our Stakeholders?
Who are our Stakeholders?
Curriculum on Water Features as
part of Teaching Pesticide Safety
• Preventing Water Contamination is part of
the PA Pesticide Applicator Core Manual
• Sources of Water Contamination, such as
identifying point source and nonpoint source
• Targeting both applicators and consumers in
regards to teaching protecting water sources
with safe pesticide practices
Why pesticide safety at a water
educators conference?
• Collaborating with the Master Watershed
Steward Program on resources
• Sharing resources for you to use with your
learner groups
• Getting input from you to improve those
resources!
Curriculum Resources
• Ground Water Model Video on Pesticide
Education YouTube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqc4N_d
U4i4
• Groundwater Model Diagrams
• Cone of Depression Examples
• Operation Think Tank