A Weekend about Water

Over 70 Extension Master Watershed Stewards from across the state gathered from July 18th -20th to share projects and ideas, absorb knowledge from water professionals, and explore local historical and natural resources. Some of us chose a camp-style experience and stayed in the campus dorm, while others opted for air-conditioned hotel accommodations. Either way, the weekend was a time of inspiration, information, and innovation.

We gathered on Friday evening for Penn State ice cream and an informal poster session which highlighted volunteer projects and educational displays, as well as provided an opportunity to view some of the tools that are available for stewards to use to share our message about improving the health of our water resources. We were reminded of and humbled by the fact that sometimes projects don't turn out as expected, despite our best intentions and efforts. I appreciated the courage of one of our stewards who was willing to share her experience with a rain garden that didn't exactly look or function like it should have after its first significant rain event. Best wishes to her as she works with various partners to salvage and repair this stormwater management practice.

Saturday morning, we were welcomed by District 8 Allegheny Council Representative Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, who shared her experiences working on water issues, including from a previous position at the Western PA Conservancy. Ms Naccarati-Chapkis expressed appreciation for the Master Watershed Steward program stating, "Local expertise is invaluable."

We also received an engaging primer about plastic pollution from Hannah Hohman, Projects Coordinator of Three Rivers Waterkeeper, and Lauren Pearman, Allegheny Cleanways Education Coordinator. They covered pre-consumer and post-consumer impacts of plastics and some of the challenges of recycling as a way to mitigate plastic pollution. The bottom line was that "plastics pollute at every point of their lifecycle."

These keynote addresses were followed by breakout sessions led by various Master Watershed Steward (MWS) volunteers and coordinators. Attendees chose between workshops about macroinvertebrates, a riparian buffer project or a stream assessment project for the first session. The second session offered opportunities for a roundtable discussion, a Watershed Friendly Program update, or a presentation about surface water temperatures in a Pocono area lake. The depth of knowledge and experience that our stewards develop through the MWS program and the valuable services they offer to communities and our natural environment were evident through their presentations. One attendee commented "Networking and listening to another steward present on a project was something I could take away and do."

Field trips to local sites of interest were organized for Saturday afternoon and this very full day wrapped up with a picnic in a local park, an engaging presentation about the history of the indigenous Seneca people in western PA, and a movie about aquatic invasive species.

Sunday morning offered another chance to explore a local natural resource or historical site before we all headed home, energized to continue our work of educating the public, conducting community science to evaluate the health of our waterways, and implementing strategies to bolster our natural environment. Kudos to MWS Coordinators Laurie Maglietta and Justin Mansberger for organizing this informative and enjoyable event. Numerous attendees have already inquired about plans for our next retreat in 2027! Learn more about our volunteer program on the Master Watershed Steward Program website