The Logan County office of Ohio State University Extension has received national honors for an innovative environmental education program that teaches people about water quality issues.
The program, Master Watershed Stewards, was developed by Indian Lake water quality agent Gary L. Comer Jr. as an instructional program for volunteers. The 30-hour course teaches would-be stewards about water quality; wetlands; land-use planning and watershed management; stream monitoring; and home, yard and agricultural best management practices.
After completing the educational portion of the program, participants must complete 30 additional hours of approved volunteer work to become certified Master Watershed Stewards.
The Master Watershed Stewards Program was one of three Cooperative Extension Service programs to receive the Natural Resources and Environmental Management National Flagship Recognition Award. The other programs were from New York and a cooperative effort between Washington and Oregon.
"These programs truly represent the best of the best," said I. Miley Gonzalez, U.S. Department of Agriculture under secretary for research, education and economics. "They bring together the critical elements of innovation, collaboration and diversity that empower local communities to use and protect their natural resources."
Master Watershed Steward volunteers have participated in more than 30 water quality education programs and have contributed more than 400 hours of community service. The service of volunteers has greatly increased the ability of Extension educators to deliver various water quality education programs to an ever-larger number of citizens.
Extension services, natural resource agencies, independent environmental groups and other watershed projects from 15 other states have used the Master Watershed Stewards materials as a starting point to develop their own programs. These materials also are being used by four Logan County school systems and two home-school associations.
Each year, Master Watershed Stewards must attend five hours of educational programs or three educational sessions, and complete 15 hours of volunteer work to remain certified. So far, 30 people have participated in the program. The development of the Master Watershed Stewards program began in 1994 and was funded in part by a grant through the Indian Lake Watershed Project. The program was modeled after Extension's Master Gardener Program.
The award was presented by Gonzalez at the First National Natural Resources Extension Conference in Deerwood, Minn., on May 18. More than 200 state-designated flagship programs from 25 states competed for the award. Among the criteria considered were partnerships in program design and delivery, new innovative approaches to natural resources education, and documented benefits to learners.
People interested in learning more about Master Watershed Stewards or starting the program in their watershed may call Gary Comer at the Logan County office of Ohio State University Extension, (937) 599-4227.
All educational programs conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, age, disability or Vietnam-era veteran status.
Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director, OSU Extension.
TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868