A consortium of local conservation and watershed organizations announces the fourth session of the Schuylkill Water Stewards volunteer training program, starting in fall 2016.

Since the program launched in 2014, nearly 40 volunteers have been successfully trained and mobilized to help monitor and protect water quality in the French, Hay, and Pickering Creek Watersheds. We look forward to augmenting this dedicated corps of volunteers with the upcoming class.

Schuylkill Water Stewards is part of an innovative, science-driven initiative – launched in 2013 by the William Penn Foundation – that seeks to protect and restore water resources in the Delaware River Watershed.

The Delaware River Watershed, which includes the Schuylkill River and tributaries such as the French, Hay, and Pickering Creeks, provides drinking water for more than 15 million people and covers parts of Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.

In northern Chester and southern Berks Counties, participants in the initiative are focused on preserving land around the high quality creeks of the French, Hay, and Pickering Creeks. Maintaining natural areas around streams is one of the most effective ways to keep them clean and to minimize the impacts of stormwater.

Schuylkill Water Stewards play an important role in gathering data about the current health of the creeks and provide the data needed to measure the impact of land preservation efforts in the area.

Schuylkill Water Stewards volunteers participate in a fun and engaging training program that includes both classroom instruction and hands-on, field-based practice about topics such as the science of healthy watersheds, water sampling techniques, identifying threats to streams, monitoring stormwater, and more.

Once training is completed, volunteers engage in water testing, report on stormwater events, observe aquatic wildlife, and assess stream habitats.

The fall 2016 class of volunteers begins training on October 15. The training schedule includes:

Trainings will be held in various locations in northern Chester County and in Reading.

Interested volunteers can visit www.schuylkillwaterstewards.org for more information and to apply for the program. Applications should be submitted by October 12, 2016.

Schuylkill Water Stewards is a collaboration of Green Valleys Watershed Association, French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust, Natural Lands Trust, the Hay Creek Watershed Association, Berks Nature, and Pennsylvania Audubon.