Get ready to join in on the EPA Watershed Academy 44th webcast seminar, ”Working Together to Address the Effects of Climate Change on Water Resources” 2-hour audio webcast, Tuesday, October 27, 2009. Times are: 1:00-3:00 p.m. Eastern time, 12:00-2:00 p.m. Central, 11:00-1:00 Mountain and 10:00-12:00 Pacific.
You are encouraged to register for the webcast here.
Climate change has been identified as one of EPA’s top priorities and the Agency is working to define strategies and actions to address climate change. EPA’s “National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change,” posted at www.epa.gov/ow/climatechange/strategy.html, provides basic information on climate change, the water-related effects of climate change, and the implications for EPA’s National Water Program.
Tune into this Webcast to learn the latest about what EPA is doing, as well as how Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program is developing climate change vulnerability assessments, adaptation plans, and indicators under EPA’s Climate Ready Estuary (CRE) program. Webcast participants are eligible to receive a certificate for their attendance. The Webcast presentations are posted in advance at www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts and participants are encouraged to download them prior to the Webcast.
Instructors:
Michael Shapiro, Deputy Assistant Administrator, U.S. EPA’s Office of Water
Karen Metchis, Senior Climate Advisor, U.S. EPA’s Office of Water
Lisa Beever, Director, Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program, Florida
The Watershed Academy Web is a set of self-paced training modules that represent a basic but broad introduction to watershed management. This program’s goal is to provide useful information to local and state/tribal efforts aimed at improving the health of our Nation’s waters by protecting and managing their watersheds.
These training modules cover the most important watershed management topics, about which watershed managers, local officials, involved citizens, decision makers, and others should have at least an introductory level of knowledge. Web modules resemble interactive guest lectures by leaders in watershed management. Unlike an average technical paper, many modules are visually rich and contain 25 to 50 color illustrations and photos. A module typically contains many links for those seeking greater detail, while module-specific glossaries are there for beginners. Self-tests enable trainees to check their retention and see immediate results.
The length and complexity of each module varies, but most are at the college freshman level of instruction and require a ½ hour to 2 hours each to complete. Completing a series of 15 of these modules earns the Watershed Academy Web Training Certificate.
The multiple disciplines covered in the Watershed Academy Web modules are grouped into six watershed training themes (below) that were selected by watershed practitioners from local and state governments, federal agencies, and universities:
Introduction/Overview. These modules introduce the principles of the watershed approach and the value of working at a watershed level.
Watershed Ecology. These modules show that watersheds are natural systems that provide substantial benefits to people and the environment when they are kept in good condition.
Watershed Change. These modules describe both natural and human-induced changes in watersheds, and compare normal changes with changes of concern.
Analysis and Planning. These modules address how watershed planning, monitoring, and assessment are important first steps toward solving problems.
Management Practices. These modules show how watershed management challenges such as urban runoff, cropland management, forestry, and other issues are addressed by techniques that reduce environmental impacts.
Community/Social Context. These modules cover social issues, communications, relevant laws and regulations. They concentrate on the human element of watershed management.
The Watershed Academy was started by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Office of Water in 1994 to provide training courses and educational materials on the fundamentals of a watershed approach. Our target audience includes local, state, tribal, and federal officials as well as citizens and private practitioners of watershed management. The Watershed Academy has four main components:
in order to download the file.) and‘Nature Deficit Disorder’ is described by a disengagement among today’s young population, which can all too often result in a cavalier disregard for the natural world and the environment. Huffman & Carpenter would like to be a part of the solution, by encouraging and supporting wetlands, environmental and science education.
As more Americans dwell in cities and suburbs, our society becomes increasingly distanced from the natural world. This absence of everyday connections to nature has many negative effects-especially for children.
Pockets of remaining wetland in developed areas often provide the easiest access to nature. Yet these wetlands may be degraded and go unnoticed.
Urban and suburban wetlands are valuable resources to be restored, protected and enjoyed. These remnants of the natural world in the human landscape can play a key role in reconnecting people to nearby nature-thereby improving the health of our children and our communities.
Learn more about wetlands: http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/
Our forests, streams, lakes, and wetlands provide an amazing service to us, clean water! They have evolved over millions of years of ‘research and development’. Forests act as a giant filter. Rain infiltrates the porous organic soils and percolates slowly to streams where it is gradually released as clear water. As a result, forest streams commonly run clear even during storms.
Wetlands: Nature’s sponge and filter
Wetlands, swamps, marshes, bogs, and fens provide many services. They filter stream waters, store water, and offer critical habitat for many plants and animals. Wetlands fill with water during rains and slowly release water through droughts. Before we understood their critical role, we used to ditch and drain wetlands to create lawns, pastures, or farms.
Green infrastructure: What’s that?
Our forests, streams, lakes, and wetlands provide us with vital water supply and filtration services. Like roads, power lines, and water pipeline systems, they are essential infrastructure that we depend on. Just like these other services, our green infrastructure requires investment.
Forested corridors: vital to stream health
Maintaining forest corridors along our streams is essential to stream health. Forests filter water, provide shade to cool waters during summer heat, provide logs that create pools and riffles, and provide wildlife travel corridors and habitat. They also provide walking trails for us!
The illustrations and text are from Natural Resources Canada,
Environmental Concern, a 501 3c organization based in St. Michaels, Maryland, offers an outstanding educational program designed to foster stewardship of wetlands among the next generation.
WOW!: The Wonders Of Wetlands is an acclaimed, comprehensive, interdisciplinary curriculum guide for educators of grade levels K-12. The latest edition, co-published in 1995 by Environmental Concern and The Watercourse (Bozeman, MT), includes more than 50 fun and effective learning-activities for both indoor and outdoor use. These activities focus on the three definitive wetland parameters: water, soil, and plants; there are animal-oriented exercises as well.
Equally important, the user is given extensive background information on wetlands and a glossary of terms, either within, or cross-referenced with, the activities. The 330 page guide also contains some basic ideas for wetland enhancement, restoration, and construction, and a listing of other educational wetland resources. It is currently in use throughout the United States and in several other countries.
EC also offers teacher and leadership training workshops to support the use of WOW!. Since 1991, nearly 5000 participants in more than 30 states have attended WOW! workshops, which vary from a few hours to one and half days in length.
NEW!!! WOW! is now correlated with the National Science Education Standards
A committee of educators has correlated WOW! activities with the National Science Education Standards developed by the National Academy of Sciences. In addition, the WOW! activities have been correlated with science content standards in several states.
Copies of these correlations with national and state standards are available with the purchase of a new WOW! book through Environmental Concern Inc. or upon request by contacting the EC Education Department by phone at (410) 745-9620 or by email.
Environmental Concern Inc. is a 501(c)3 public not for profit Corporation, that is dedicated to working with all aspects of wetlands; the most active and fascinating ecosystems in the world. After 36 years of providing wetland services in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed and beyond, we continue to broaden our partnership efforts. We have made significant progress in the ongoing effort to improve the water quality in the bay; yet there is still much work to be done. Protecting our wetlands is vital.