2004 WAM Blog
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Celebrate Watershed Awareness Month with FUN
Memorial Day Weekend makes a perfect way to cap off all the hard work, dedication, and activities that contributed to 2004's "May is Watershed Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania. The lakes, and rivers, and streams, and bays are just waiting for paddlers and swimmers, and tubers to enjoy thier waters. Waters that are much cleaner and more useable every year as awareness of watershed issues meets the public at an intersection of action and effort.
Reward yourself for your Watershed Awareness Month efforts by enjoying the waters you help protect. Join a Pennsylvania River Sojourn in June, visit a state park and swim in the jeweled lakes, step out your back door to your favorite fishing spot, or just appreciate a cold drink of water on a warm spring day. Get out and have fun, and thanks for everything you do for Pennsylvania's watersheds!
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
POWR’s Foray into Blogging for Non-Profits
Visitors to POWR’s PA River Sojourns and Watershed Awareness Month webpages can now view current program happenings posted directly by staff via two new blogs. A "blog" is short for weblog, and is an online journal that will keep you regularly updated on programs, trips, news, views, stories, and related links. At it’s essence, a blog is another automated tool (such as bulletin boards) for sharing information and enlivening a website.
The 2004 PA River Sojourns weblog and the 2004 Watershed Awareness Month weblog are both powered by Blogger.com, a free on-line client and host that allows easy posting without requiring intensive programming or potentially expensive server-software interactions. The benefit of this is that the time spent on the blog focuses on content and not website creation.
Green Media Toolshed makes an interesting note on the value of blogs to the non-profits that utilize them and their constituent members through consideration of the “value of making more of the thinking and learning of the organization available to staff, friends and the public.” GMT also recommends an article by Zafar S. Shah at http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/section/466.html that further “makes a contribution to the chorus pushing nonprofit staff to be more transparent through use of the blog as an easy content tool.”
Both POWR blogs are considered external in that their purpose is sharing project and activity information with a wide public audience. An external blog may also be used for campaign organizing or themed training opportunities. Organizations may alternately choose to utilize blogs internally as training and record keeping tools. Or for updating associated individuals such as Board members about strategic planning or other related progress reports. In this case, it may be preferred to keep the blog on a private section of the organization's server for internal viewing only, as opposed to free hosting online.
The new practice of blogging has quietly taken over the on-line computing world in the last year or two, with notable contributions from Howard Dean’s grassroots campaign at http://blog.deanforamerica.com/, and the NPOblogs site (news from people who are getting things done) at http://www.npoblogs.org.
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
EVENT SHOWCASE: Kiski-Conemaugh Volunteer Cross-Training Days
Kiski-Conemaugh Volunteer Cross-Training Days, hosted by the Natural Biodiversity Conservation Strategy and the Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team, will be held May 22, 2004, at Greenhouse Park, Johnstown. This is an opportunity to get involved in your watershed by learning how to be a:
Weed Watcher: learn how to identify invasive plant species and/or a Stream Monitor: learn how to evaluate water quality.
The Training Schedule:
9 am -12 noon - Biodiversity presentation followed by invasive plant species identification
1 pm - 4 pm - AMD presentation, water sampling, HACH kit training
Lunch will be provided. Dress appropriately - the training will be held rain or shine.
RSVP - Call (814) 532-5049 now for more information or to reserve your spot at this exciting, informative training. You may
speak to Kylie Daisley: Natural Biodiversity Conservation Strategy(kdaisley@naturalbiodiversity.org)or Roz Robitaille: Kiski-Conemaugh Stream Team (rrobitai@kcstreamteam.org)
Friday, May 14, 2004
EVENT SHOWCASE: Bear Creek Festival
"Your family can celebrate spring right now by marking your family’s calendar for the Third Annual Bear Creek Festival to be held on Sunday, May 16 from noon to five at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds, Rt. 895, Summit Station."
Read more at the Schuylkill Fairgrounds Bear Creek webpage.
View the Governor's and State Senate's proclamation of Watershed Awareness Month that are scheduled to be on display. Thanks to Ed Wytovich, of EPCAMR and our planning committee, for getting the proclamations out there at an event, and for continuing to share Watershed Awareness Month with folks.
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
Senate Resolution Designating Watershed Awareness Month
Senate Resolution No. 263 designating May 2004 as "Watershed Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania was introduced and adopted on Monday May 3rd this year. Special thanks to Senator James J. Rhoades from District 29 for sponsoring the legislation.
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth's land, rivers, streams, lakes,
wetlands and groundwater resources are interconnected to form a
rich mosaic of watersheds; and
WHEREAS, These treasured water resources provide citizens
with clean drinking water and recreational and business
opportunities; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth contains 83,000 miles of rivers
and streams for all to enjoy and treasure; and
WHEREAS, There are eight distinct river basins in
Pennsylvania, including Lake Erie, Ohio River, Genesee River
(Lake Ontario), Susquehanna River, Delaware River, Potomac
River, Elk River and Northeast/Gunpowder Rivers; and
WHEREAS, There are 104 watersheds, the basic building blocks
of the natural environment, in this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth invests enormous resources to
restore and protect water, including remediating drainage from
thousands of abandoned coal mines which contaminates more than
3,000 miles of streams and associated groundwaters and is the
most extensive problem affecting Commonwealth water resources;
and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth is committed to a watershed
approach to resource management where concerned community
members come together as watershed guardians to address and
resolve problems; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth empowers and assists local
watershed organizations working in partnership as watershed
guardians to help resolve or remediate current water quality and
water quantity problems within watershed boundaries; and
WHEREAS, This watershed approach to environmental protection
leads to cleaner rivers and streams, safer drinking water and
greater protection of aquatic wildlife habitats; and
WHEREAS, There are more than 400 active watershed groups in
this Commonwealth, and new watershed groups are forming
continuously; and
WHEREAS, Educational forums connecting adults and children to
their watersheds, including the land, water and people,
ultimately provide long-term protection for these important and
valuable water resources; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth recognizes and celebrates the
efforts of hardworking volunteers within watershed groups who
improve their communities today and for future generations;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of Pennsylvania designate May 2004
as "Watershed Awareness Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the theme "Healthy Watersheds, Healthy
Communities" guide the many volunteer community organizations,
educators and other groups that conduct watershed education and
awareness activities throughout the month.
Visit the Pa Legislature site at http://www2.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2003/0/SR0263P1591.pdf to view the resolution as printed.
And as an update to a previous post, the resolution as printed for Safe Drinking Water Week in Pennsylvania, can be viewed at http://www2.legis.state.pa.us/WU01/LI/BI/BT/2003/0/HR0642P3579.pdf
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
EVENT SHOWCASE: Bald Eagle Sojourn
{Cross-post from the PA River Sojourns Blog}
Here is a hearty welcome to a new sojourn that has popped up this year in Pennsylvania. If you can't join any of our POWR promoted and sponsored PA River Sojourns, the Bald Eagle Sojourn is another option for you.
first annual BALD EAGLE SOJOURN
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Sponsored by the National Slalom Training Center #9, Bald Eagle State Park, and the Centre and Clinton County Conservation Districts.
Paddle from Milesburg to Upper Greens Run with your friends! Optional (unorganized) extension of trip from Upper Greens Run to the beach.
Cost: $10 for adults, $6 for children under 12
Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
Registration fee includes: Insurance Event Coverage through the American Canoe Association, Boating lessons from Tussey Outfitters, Shuttle service. (Bring your own lunch and drinks, pre-registration required; Boat rentals available through Tussey Outfitters 814-355-5690)
Call the Centre County Conservation District (814-355-6817) or Bald Eagle State PArk (814-625-9369) for a registration form.
Monday, May 10, 2004
The Collection of Aquatic Organisms: License and Permit Information for Educators and Scientists
As a number of watershed groups may be undertaking this type of program during their "May is Watershed Awareness Month" activities, and during monitoring studies at any time of the year, we thought we would make sure everyone was aware of the proper requirements for such. The basics are as follows:
"The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission is charged under Commonwealth law with the protection and management of aquatic organisms and the places they live. A large part of this protection role is developing and enforcing laws and regulations. These regulations vary, but they include setting seasons, establishing minimum sizes and limits, regulating equipment use, and establishing licenses and permits...
What this means for educators, water quality monitors, and scientists is that if those collecting aquatic organisms for any reason are 16 years of age or older, they must have a valid fishing license. In addition, these activities must follow current Fish and Boat Commission regulations. Regulations protecting these organisms can be found in the Summary of Fishing Regulations and Laws booklet available from the Fish and Boat Commission...
However, high school and undergraduate college students are exempt from the license requirement IF their teacher/educator applies for and is issued an Educational Aquatic Field Study Permit. The teacher leading the field study group must complete and submit a permit registration form to the PFBC. There is no charge. The leader(s) of the field study group must possess a valid PA fishing license. In addition, if sampling occurs in approved trout streams from the opening day of trout season to the first Saturday of May, the leader must also possess a valid trout & salmon stamp..."
For the full fact sheet, as well as links to permit applications, visit the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and search for the key words "educational permit". Then select "The Collection of Aquatic Organisms in Pennsylvania" from the list of link choices.
Friday, May 07, 2004
Native Plant Sale
Many watershed groups may be undertaking streamside plantings or revegetaing areas that have been abused in the past. If so, or if you just want to Garden Naturally and make your yard a home to more than just yourself and your lawnmower, check out Wildlands Conservancy's Native Plant Sale at the Pool Wildlife Sanctuary on May 15 and 16, from 9 am to 6 pm.
"Natural Gardening. Its about learning to work with, rather than against, nature.
Its about growing plants adapted to the conditions that nature sets.
Its about reducing the use of chemicals to feed the plants, as well as to ward off pests and diseases that afflict them.
Its about designing our gardens and landscapes to complement the natural surroundings." - from Wildlands Woodland Floor Natural Gardening Bookmark
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
Safe Drinking Water Week May 2-8
It seems appropriate that Safe Drinking Water Week falls within Watershed Awareness month as healthy watersheds are so important for our drinking water needs. The PA Department of Environmental Protection is marking the event by recognizing water suppliers who met all federal and state standrads in 2003:
"As part of National Safe Drinking Water Week May 2-8, DEP's Bureau of Water Supply and Wastewater Management will recognize the 954 Pennsylvania water supply systems that complied with all federal and state drinking water quality standards and monitoring requirements during 2003.
Each system will receive a certificate from DEP to recognize its work in preserving water as a precious natural resource, conserving drinking water and groundwater supplies and maintaining water quality.
People should not be alarmed, however, if they do not find their water supplier on the list of violation-free suppliers. There are administrative violations, such as paperwork errors, that a supplier might have that could keep them off the list without affecting the quality of their water."
To find out more about drinking water and other water management issues in PA, visit the PA DEP's Drinking Water page.
Monday, May 03, 2004
Governor's Proclamation
As I sit here, I now hold an official Governor's Office Proclamation for Watershed Awareness Month May 2004 in my hands. It's got the Pennsylvania crest and seal in gold and Governor Edward G. Rendel's signature at the bottom. So now there is no excuse as the Governor is "urging all citizens to participate in environmental activities in thier local watersheds throughout the month of May".
If you want to check out the proclamation for yourself, go here to view the proclamation pdf file on-line. I wish we had other places to display the proclamation, but we sort of let that slip this year. I did find out that it is possible to display such in the lobby of the Rachel Carson State Office Building here in Harrisburg where DEP and DCNR have offices. Too bad we didn't know about that before hand, we could have set up a little display. And oh yeah, it's only available if your sponsored by one of the state workers within the building apparently, which isn't a problem for us with DEP staff on the committee. We'll keep it in mind next year, and if anyone else has any ideas for where we might display the proclamation, let me know.
