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The
Watershed Assistance Center
Never
doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change
the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. - Margaret
Mead
We All Live Downstream
We
all live in a watershed, and likely travel between two or more everyday.
Everything we do:
- What we grow on our land,
- What we discharge from our homes and lawns, and
- How we process water in our industries affects
the quality and quantity of water available for everyone living downstream.
And, we all live downstream.
Local
community volunteer "grassroots" groups, are increasingly recognizing
not only the value of local watershed protection but also how important
their involvement in the process can be. Pennsylvania enjoys clean water
in about 60 percent of its waterways today as a result of a few dedicated
volunteers who fought to overcome the enormous challenge of water pollution.
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A Brief History of the Watershed Assistance Center
Through
the legislative approval of a public-private partnership to create a fund
for conservation projects, an unprecedented influx of financial resources
suddenly became available to grassroots conservation organizations. However,
providing the necessary documentation to receive those funds, and then
being able to manage a budget that could represent more than ten times
your present spending plan, put many grassroots organizations in unfamiliar
terrain. Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) recognized the importance
of establishing a comprehensive source of technical assistance to volunteer
groups. In January 2001, WPC launched the Watershed Assistance Center.
 An
anonymous donor provided initial funding, which allowed WPC to provide
cost-free technical assistance to watershed and like-minded organizations
in western Pennsylvania. Later in 2001, WPC received a Technical Assistance
Grant through the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Program to provide technical
assistance to groups located within the Ohio River watershed.
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Free
Technical Assistance
Many
grassroots conservation organizations are made up of hardworking volunteers
who may not have the time or expertise to tackle all of the issues that
arise in protecting or enhancing their watershed. The Watershed Assistance
Center is designed to fill in those gaps and make life easier for those
volunteers. It is not  uncommon
for an organization that has a very small annual operating budget to eventually
take on a project carrying a six-figure price tag. In many cases, groups
may be working with a private consultant for the first time and they are
not sure what to expect. Several groups are just starting out and may
be unsure of the processes necessary to achieve non-profit status, or
how to attract members. Whatever the case, by working with the Watershed
Assistance Center, fears and uncertainties can be turned into confidence
and enjoyment.
The
Watershed Assistance Center offers free technical assistance to non-profit
conservation organizations, municipalities, educational entities and individuals,
providing scientific, legal, administrative, outreach and education assistance.
 Our Mission
Many
people associate the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy with its slogan,
"Saving the Places We Care About." The mission of the Watershed
Assistance Center is "Helping Watershed and Like-minded Organizations
Help Themselves Save the Watersheds They Care About." By helping
grassroots organizations save the local watersheds that they care about,
WPC ultimately achieves its mission one watershed at a time.
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Available
Free Services
Scientific
The Watershed Assistance Center can provide technical expertise in identifying
and treating all non-point pollution types, including abandoned mine drainage.
Assistance with water quality and riparian area monitoring, macro-invertebrate
sampling, habitat evaluations, and monitoring protocol development is
also available. Trained staff is available to serve on project steering
and technical committees as well.
Legal
One of the biggest issues faced by groups
is organizational standing. The Center can assist newly forming groups
with development of by-laws, articles of incorporation and filing for
non-profit status with the IRS. Other important legal assistance provided
includes land acquisition, easements, and filing for Good Samaritan protection.
Administrative
Assistance is available for completing the
many types of documentation associated with completing grant-funded projects,
such as scope of work revisions, budget establishment, quarterly status
reports and reimbursement requests. Help with managing budget issues associated
with organizations is available as well.
Many groups have exciting and worthwhile
projects to complete in their watersheds, but struggle with completing
the proposals necessary to receive grant funding. The Watershed Assistance
Center trained staff can assist in applying for these funds as well as
provide grant administrative services once funds are awarded. Although
the Watershed Assistance Center does not prepare funding proposals on
behalf of organizations, assistance with all aspects of preparing a proposal
can be provided.
Outreach
Assistance can be provided for the development
of promotional materials such as newsletters, pamphlets and even websites.
If a group has a web presence, assistance is available for updating that
site.
If a group has been working on or has completed
worthwhile projects but hasn't received the recognition it deserves, the
Watershed Assistance Center can assist by coordinating with the media
by inviting them to attend an organization's functions and project sites.
Assistance with preparing media releases can also be provided.
 Education
This can range from actual in-field training
for a particular project or through a formal program. Training opportunities
include grant administration, promotional material development and using
geographic information systems (GIS). The center can provide watershed
education to children and students as well as to watershed organizations.
Project Analysis and Prioritization
The Watershed Assistance Center can assist
with prioritizing projects by visiting project sites and contacting appropriate
agency or consulting personnel. Assistance with forming important partnerships
for each project is also available.
Once a list of projects is developed and their priority has been established,
it is necessary to match each project with the appropriate funding source.
The Watershed Assistance Center has developed
a library of funding sources for use in making this determination. Eventually,
this library will be available for download on the Center's website.
An important component to most funding proposals is the identification
of matching funds or services a group will draw from to complete a project.
This can be a monumental task for a volunteer
group. The Center can provide assistance with locating matching funds
and services as well as determining how they fit into a particular project.
Who
is Eligible?
Any grassroots conservation organization, municipality, school or individual
working toward protecting or enhancing their watershed is eligible to
receive cost-free assistance! Although the focus area consists of the
Ohio River, Lake Erie and portions of the Susquehanna River watersheds,
the Watershed Assistance Center is dedicated to assisting all interested
groups or individuals with watershed related issues as well as education.
Because everyone lives in a watershed, it is important that people have
an understanding of how watersheds work and how human beings impact water
quality. One doesn't have to be a member of a watershed group to improve
or protect water quality. By having a basic understanding of the dynamics
of watersheds, even individuals can make a difference.
For more information, contact:
Nick
Pinizzotto
Director
Watershed Programs
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
Watershed Assistance Center
PO Box R, Route 381 South
Mill Run, PA 15464
724.329.0531
e-mail: npinizzotto@paconserve.org
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