Posted: January 7, 2025
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." —Margaret Mead
Bucks County Master Watershed Stewards at a tree planting.
In 2024, the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward Program grew to 911 dedicated community volunteers in 42 counties who logged 44,233 volunteer hours across the state. Since the program began in 2013, the total volunteer hours are 198,460, valued at $6.6 million.
In their collective efforts this past year, working with local conservation organizations, the Master Watershed Stewards:
- Made over 90,060 personal contacts with Pennsylvania residents and shared information on protecting our water resources
- Reached 129 MS4 communities with qualifying stormwater education and outreach
- Organized 116 workshops for local community organizations
- Set up educational displays and engaged with residents at 266 community events
- Taught students about the environment in 92 schools
- 237 Master Watershed Stewards used their knowledge to support municipal boards and community watershed groups
- Planted 29,107 trees and 28,411 herbaceous perennials
- Distributed 502 rain barrels
- Conducted water quality monitoring on 302 sites along 140 streams
- Restored 18 acres of habitat and 8 miles of streams
The Master Watershed Steward Program continued to build upon the Watershed Friendly program by offering a Watershed Friendly Native Plug Kit sale to provide an economical way for Pennsylvania residents to incorporate more native plants in their landscapes. Thanks to the sale, 20,200 native wildflowers, grasses, and sedges found homes in the landscape! The initiative also included a webinar on Watershed Friendly Native Planting, attracting 469 registrants. The Watershed Friendly program is a collaboration with the Nurture Nature Center and educates residents across the state on best practices to improve the water quality of their yards. Once those practices are implemented, residents can apply to certify their homes as Watershed Friendly.
The Future Master Watershed Steward Program was launched statewide as a collaborative effort between Penn State Extension and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) - Bureau of State Parks. The program utilizes the DCNR’s Watershed Education curriculum for youth, typically ages 11 to 18. Future Master Watershed Stewards can be existing groups of youth such as scout troops, school classrooms, 4-H clubs, church youth groups, environmental clubs, and others, or a newly formed group of youth just for this program. Master Watershed Stewards who took the Future Master Watershed Stewards training demonstrated increased capacity, knowledge, confidence, and intent to change behavior. They also gained increased capacity to deliver water education to youth, demonstrated increased knowledge of how to use water education methods and curriculum, and increased their confidence to deliver a Future Master Watershed Steward program in their community.
Joined by new staff in Adams County, the regional program in Cumberland, Franklin, and Adams counties was split, allowing more focus, programming, and projects in Adams County!
Thank you to the Master Watershed Stewards for all the good they've done in 2024!
