PENN STATE EXTENSION PESTICIDE EDUCATION PROGRAM & MASTER WATERSHED STEWARD PROGRAM Partnerships, Practices, Curriculum, and Outreach Education for Groundwater Protection

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 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?

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: U4i4 U4i4 Groundwater Model Diagrams Cone of Depression Examples Operation Think Tank