We are more than 3000 individuals in the state of Kentucky
who are giving their time in an effort to improve our waterways
through a coordinated campaign of water quality monitoring,
skills development and advocacy.
More than 300 organizations are contributing to the effort
by providing volunteers, staff, technical assistance,
instruction and financial resources.
Last year we conducted 25 training workshops in basic
stream monitoring. We sponsor advanced training workshops
in water quality monitoring, regulatory processes and watershed
science.
Our volunteers are collecting samples on more than 700 ACTIVE sampling sites in Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee. (Watershed cross state lines!) and have collected data at over 2700 stations over the 10 year history of the program.
We provide that data to all project participants
and any interested party who requests it.
We provide technical assistance to local watershed groups on dealing
with the issues raised by their monitoring and assessment efforts.
We conduct fall "Watershed Protection Conferences" in each local
watershed where individuals, community organizations, scientific
researchers and agency personnel all come together to discuss the
condition of our waterways as revealed by our monitoring.
Where we are going:
Each local watershed steering committee develops its own goals and operational
plans based on the needs in its communities and unique conditions in its
waterways.
The local watershed steering committees cooperate through an Interbasin Coordinating
Committee to develop the scientific protocols, training resources, financial
resources, data management, organizational support and leadership development
that ensure the delivery of our services.
What we do best is deliver science to the people, then deliver the
people to the water's edge. There they learn first hand the condition of their streams,
who in their community shares their concerns and the power they have to effect change.
