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The Penn State Montgomery County Master Watershed Stewards are currently accepting applications for the class of 2017. Master Watershed Stewards receive extensive training on water resource stewardship and then put their expertise to use helping and leading projects to protect and enhance water quality.
Applications will be accepted until March 24, 2017, or until the class is filled. Class size is limited to 25 individuals.  Applicants need not be expert in environmental studies, but should have some familiarity with water needs and a desire to learn. A strong commitment to volunteer service is a must.  Interviews will take place in late February-March to select the final candidates. Training sessions will take place on Wednesday evenings (and two Saturday mornings) from April 5 through June 21 at various organizational partners’ sites.
The training program covers a wide variety of water issues, including stormwater runoff, creek health, rain gardens, macroinvertebrates, wildlife and many other issues that are dependent on clean water. Upon completion of all classes, Master Watershed Steward candidates must pass a comprehensive closed book final exam. Within the first year after classroom study, trainees are required to volunteer 50 hours in the community. At the completion of this volunteer service, trainees receive the official Master Watershed Stewards certification.
For more information, please send an email to: lma13@psu.edu with the subject line ‘2017 Master Watershed Stewards Training’. For more background on the Master Watershed Stewards and the program check out the Extension website: www.extension.psu.edu.

Download an application form.

On Monday, March 6^th, 2017, from 6:00 – 8:30 PM, Montgomery County Conservation District in conjunction with Penn State Cooperative Extension, will present a free Pasture/Manure Management Workshop at the 4H Center, in Creamery, PA. For more information and to register, see the attached flyer.

Penn State Extension has released the 2016 annual report for the Master Watershed Steward program.  Montgomery County Conservation District, Penn State Extension, and various local partners have worked to train and provide volunteer activities for Master Watershed Stewards in Montgomery County since 2014.  Statewide, there are now 150 Stewards working to restore waterways and educate residents in 11 counties.

In 2016, these stewards recorded 3,662 volunteer hours, which is valued at $85,690!  During those hours, they implemented rain gardens, planted trees, conducted outreach, created habitat areas, constructed rain barrels, and more.  Click here to read the full report.

It is time for vote for the Pennsylvania River of the Year, and our own Perkiomen Creek has been nominated.  If selected by popular vote, the Creek will receive funding and attention that will improve water quality and engage local residents.

Each year, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers (POWR) recognize one river as the River of the Year. This recognition is done to raise awareness of the important recreational, ecological, and historical resources associated with the state’s rivers and streams.

The River of the Year is celebrated throughout the year with paddling trips, a speaker series, cleanup days, photography contests, and more. Let’s bring notoriety and some fun outings to the Perkiomen!

The voting period will last from November 14th to December 19th, 2016.  Find our more about this year’s nominees and vote!

The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office and the Police Chiefs Association of Montgomery County are sponsoring a Drug Take Back Day on October 22nd, 2016. This program provides a safe way for county residents to dispose of unwanted, unneeded, and expired prescription and over-the-counter medications. Please see the below link for additional details and drop-off locations.

http://www.montcopa.org/1766/Prescription-Drug-Disposal-Program