Addressing Education Issues
Water Quality Education Coalition
With so many groups involved in water quality education, an organized front would be beneficial
for those involved. By forming a Water Quality Education Coalition (WQEC), the current
educational efforts could be coordinated to cover more people and reduce repetition of efforts.
Representatives on the WQEC would include but not be limited to the following:
 | OSU Extension Agents |
| Indian Lake State Park Education Coordinator |
| Soil & Water Conservation District Education Coordinators |
| Logan County Litter Prevention and Recycling |
| Representatives from School Districts in the Watershed and Lake Area |
| The Many Divisions of Ohio Department of Natural Resources |
By setting personal environmental education and water quality education goals aside and working
on a coordinated, unified front, this group could reach a larger audience and cover more
material. This organized group could also work with the joint board on securing equipment and
materials for water quality educational purposes.
The multi-agency efforts on the watershed project team have been successful indicating an
organized effort on educational issues certainly would be beneficial, especially to the
watershed project in its efforts to increase the water quality knowledge of watershed residents
and visitors.
The educational efforts must address all audiences of people, but target young people (grades
K- 12). Young people are great translators and distributors of information. When they are
excited and interested about something, they share it with their friends and families. By
getting the young people enthused about water issues, we can disseminate information to the
adult population with whom the students have contact.
There are many organizations currently in Ohio whose main goals are water quality education.
Programs like Ohio Water Education Program (OWEP) and Project WET (Water Education for Teachers)
are just a few. The Ohio State University College of Environmental Services has an extensive
library of environmental resources. Some items are for rent or borrow and many are free. The
decision must be made on areas the educational efforts are to be targeted, then determine the
targeted audience. Finally, materials must be gathered and organized, then programs will be
developed to be used in the coalition watershed-based educational efforts.
The coalition would be charged with executing the programs and educational goals. By conducting
follow-up evaluation and making the necessary revisions of the programs, the educational efforts
will be more successful.
Master Watershed Stewards Program - Volunteer Stream Monitoring
The Master Watershed Stewards (MWS) Program's purpose is to educate volunteers and utilize
their expertise to teach others the importance of water quality and watershed management. This
program and its volunteers will lead to future public education and public involvement efforts
to preserve, conserve and improve the quality of our water resources. The MWS program is
dedicated to stewardship of the Indian Lake Watershed and protection of all environmental
resources. The Indian Lake Watershed Project Team assisted in developing the list of topics
and identifying potential instructors and materials. The most qualified people available to
speak on the issues were requested to participate and have contributed their time, staff and
resources to the MWS project. The MWS course work is designed for participants to talk about
facts and real information and concerns-not just fears and preconceptions.
The educational program will provide a balanced, integrated practical course in watershed
management. Core topics are orientation to the MWS program; Local Water Quality Issues; Basic
Hydrology and Basic Stream, Lake and Wetland Ecology; Basic Geology and Soils; Water Quality
Monitoring; and Implementation of Best Management Practices to Improve Water Quality.
Additional topics, based on local needs, may be part of the curriculum. Because this is a
pilot program, the first classes of MWS are being asked to assist in evaluating the project as
it progresses. The evaluations will be used to improve the program for the future classes. As
new information or classes become available, trained Master Watershed Stewards will be supplied
the materials and invited to attend subsequent classes or workshops to update their knowledge.
Recruitment for the first class of watershed stewards is currently being conducted.
Instructional sessions will start in May, 1996. The volunteers will start gathering data
during the summer of 1996. The data gathered will be analyzed by project staff personnel and
added into the current water quality assessment baseline data.
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