Project Plans FY09

Massachusetts Water Watch Partnership

Project Leader: Jerome Schoen

Participating Extension Staff and Faculty:

• Jerome Schoen
• Marie Françoise Walk

Project Year: 2009

Brief Description 

Water is a primordial resource that must be protected to provide clean drinking water, support viable terrestrial, wetland and aquatic ecosystems, serve as an essential resource for businesses, and provide recreational opportunities. Historically in our region, water supply has been adequate, and point source pollution is now mostly under control. Increases in human population and changes in lifestyles, however, are creating new problems around water quantity and quality. Water withdrawals result in dry river beds and water consumption advisories, and polluted storm water has become a major concern for surface water bodies and wetlands. New pollutants are also discovered that need to be mitigated.

It is ultimately the state's responsibility to ensure safe and adequate water supply. In turn, the state relies on University-based research to investigate new threats, new treatment technologies, restoration principles, best management practices and effective policy steps to guide decision-makers. UMass Extension can bridge the gap between academic research and practices to apply that research. Municipal and regional government needs direction and practical examples to solve local water resource problems. Natural resources-based businesses need guidance to conduct business in an economically viable, environmentally conscious way. Other entities (agencies, non-profit organizations) need information to help educate the public on what steps they can take to protect the water resources they use. The Massachusetts Water Watch Partnership (MassWWP) provides training and other technical assistance to citizen organizations who conduct water quality monitoring programs on the lakes, rivers, and estuaries of Massachusetts.

In FY 2009, MassWWP will play a lead role in the planning and coordination of the 2009 WRRC Conference, which brings together water resources educators and professionals from across New England to explore the abovementioned issues.  MassWWP will also collaborate with UMass faculty/Extension staff and with staff of MA DEP and US EPA Region I to discuss integrated strategies for expanding current stormwater related research and outreach programs. MassWWP staff will complete and distribute a report that was begun in FY 2007, analyzing pollution levels, land use and potential nonpoint pollution sources in the Blackstone Watershed.

Activities

• Water Resources Research Center Conference
• Development of grant proposals
• Stormwater needs assessment and inventory of related University capacity
• Facilitated meetings with UMass, DEP and EPA personnel. These meetings will be used to gather stakeholder input and advise MassWWP staff in conducting the needs assessment inventory of UMass capacity and development of a stormwater program plan
• Development of a plan for a sustained UMass research, outreach and technical assistance program addressing stormwater issues. Note: this is not a proposal per se, but will form the basis for proposals to fund a program outlined in the written plan
• Stormwater workshops
• Information on stormwater BMPs, LIDs, presented on MASTEP website
• Blackstone Watershed Assessment Data Interpretation Report

Inputs: Time and Effort

Outcomes:

This Project will document progress towards the following:

• Participants acquire the knowledge and skills to ensure adequate supplies of high quality drinking water
• Participants at WRRC Conference acquire knowledge and skills related to water resources, ecosystem health, biodiversity, stormwater, land use, and climate change science and policy.
• Participants develop the knowledge and skills to minimize the impact of development projects on ecosystems, water and other natural resources
• Participants have the knowledge and skills to effectively address water and other natural resource issues during project review and permitting
• Recipients of MassWWP's Blackstone Data Interpretation Project report acquire knowledge to minimize the impact of development projects on ecosystems, water and other natural resources, and to effectively address water resource issues during project review and permitting.

This project is part of the Natural Resources & Environmental Conservation program