The Center is available to assist with all types of legal issues that a watershed organization may face. 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.
For groups already established, the Center can provide expertise in strengthening or promoting your organization and its efforts. Many long-established groups have been completing worthwile projects for a long time, but with little recognition. The Center can help to change this trend by assisting with the development of promotional materials such as newsletters, pamphlets and even websites. If you already have a web presence, the Center can assist with updating your site.
If your group has been working on or has completed worthwile projects but hasn't gotten the recognition it deserves, the Center can assit you by coordinating with the media by inviting them to attend your organization's functions and project sites. Assistance with preparing media releases can also be provided.
Assistance with grant proposal preparation and project prioritization is also available through the Center. Many groups have exciting and worthwile projects to complete in their watersheds, but struggle with completing the proposals necessary to receive grant funding. The Center's trained staff can work with you applying for these funds as well as providing grant administrative services once funds are awarded. This includes completing quarterly status reports and reimbursement requests.
Other important legal assistance provided includes land acquisition, easements, and filing for Good Samaritan protection.
The Center can provide your organization with various types of educational assistance. This can range from actual in-field training for a particular project or through a formal program. Other training opportunites include grant administration and promotional material development. The center can also provide watershed education to children and students as well as watershed organizations.
As today's technology becomes more avalable to grassroots organizations, there is an increasing need for data management assistance. The Center can provide this assistance to watershed groups by assisting with organization of data for use in a particular project or for the development of a geographic information system (GIS) or website. Assistance is also available to groups who are interested in integrating GIS into a website, which can be a powerful tool in depicting watershed issues to the public.
PROJECT ANALYSIS AND PRIORITIZATION
Most watershed groups have a long list of projects that they want to complete. Unfortunately, many times there is no strategy in place to complete those projects in a way that most benefits the watershed. The Center can assist with priortizing these 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 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 your group will utilize 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.
Once your organization has successfully secured funding to complete a project, you may need assistance with carrying out the necessary tasks. The Center can provide technical expertise in identifying and treating all point and non-point pollution sources, including abandoned mine drainage. Assistance with water quality monitoring, macro-invertibrate sampling and visual evaluations is also available. Trained staff from the Center are available to serve on project steering and technical committees as well.
Everyone is elegible! Although the focus area consists of the Ohio River, Lake Erie and portions of the Susquehanna River watersheds, the 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. You don'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. The Center prides itself in "Helping People Help Themselves to Protect or Enhance Water Quality in Their Watershed."
Below is a list of typically asked questions about our Watershed Assistance Center and the services we provide.
Watershed Assistance Center
Below is a list of typically asked questions about our Watershed Assistance Center and the services we provide.
Q. What is the service area of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy's Watershed Assistance Center?
A. The Watershed Assistance Center is focused on servicing watershed organizations in the watersheds of the Ohio River, Lake Erie and portions of the Susquehanna River. These watersheds cover essentially all of western Pennsylvania.
Q. What are the main functions of the Watershed Assistance Center?
A. The Center was developed to provide assistance to watershed groups who have questions about administrative, technical and educational issues. We offer a full array of watershed assistance and information services.
Q. Can the Watershed Assistance Center help our organization develop a funding proposal to complete a project in our watershed?
A. Yes. The Center can assist you with proposal preparation as well as project prioritization so that your group can work toward completing projects in the most effective manner.
Q. Our group is planning to do a watershed assessment, but we're unsure about what to look for during our visual observation. Can the Watershed Assistance Center help?
A. The Center can provide training to your group, students and volunteers to ensure the successful completion of your project. Guest speakers for your group's meetings or events are also available.
For more
information about the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy's Watershed Assistance
Center and how you or your organization can benefit from the program,
please contact Nick Pinizzotto at 412-288-2766, or send an e-mail to npinizzotto@paconserve.org
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