Watershed Stewardship Opportunities

Hands-On Action

Join a student or citizen water monitoring group - work on water quality sampling or monitoring projects.
Clean up a designated area - stream, riverbank, beach, or wellhead recharge area on your own or as member of a local watershed group.
Plant appropriate vegetation to prevent erosion on banks or upland slopes.
Regularly visit and monitor the condition of fire hydrants, a flood control levee or a stormwater retention pond. Report problems to local authorities.

Local Government Action

or Ask a state official to sponsor water awareness activities: issue a Water Week proclamation or hold a waterworks or wastewater treatment facility tour.

Attend County Water Quality Coordinating Committee meetings;
Check out the Environmental Notice Bulletin - Inform yourself about state and local environmental issues.
Promote adoption of a local ordinance for erosion and sedimentation control or an ordinance for wellhead protection.

Research

Get to know your aquifer or watershed in relation to its larger drainage basin; find out where your water comes from and where it's going.
Get topographic maps that cover your watershed; plot past, present and potential sources of pollution, wells and surface intakes. Use the information to "sell" watershed protection.
Review state environmental laws and local laws pertaining to your waterbody, structure or issue. Find out who has jurisdiction and authority to take action.

Education/Information

Urge your class or organization to participate in the Watershed Stewardship program.

Organize a poster or poetry contest or an essay, photography or model-building contest with a watershed theme..
Staff an information table at an event. Distribute brochures and fact sheets.
Hold a community forum on water-related issues such as conservation or infrastructure repair.
Plan a field trip to view your watershed, aquifer recharge zone, water or sewage treatment facility.

Leadership

Start a watershed group in your area.

For more stewardship ideas, visit EPA's Getting Involved in Your Watershed EPA's page for more stewardship ideas