Distance Learning: EPA Watershed Academy
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:
- Live watershed training courses
- Web-based training (Download a color brochure on the Watershed Academy Web in PDF format. You will need a plug-in application called Adobe Acrobat Reader
in order to download the file.) and - Information Transfer Series publications.
