Progress 09/15/00 to 09/14/05
Outputs
Regional programming is coordinated through focus areas: Agricultural Management; Community Watershed Management; Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring; and Residential Pollution Prevention. The regional website has integrated water quality efforts and improved the ability to communicate priorities and activities to partners. The website is located at www.usawaterquality/newengland. The New England Water Quality Conference is held annually. Nine regional publications highlighting impacts and accomplishments were developed, distributed and posted to the website. Agricultural producers have adopted new management systems to effectively reduce nutrients and pesticides in crop and livestock production. A 2-day New England Training for Agricultural Service Providers is held annually. Extension, farmers, and partner agency staff benefited from reduced phosphorus manure management research. Research on the Phosphorus Index resulted in an assessment tool used to predict potential
phosphorus runoff. Community based training programs have been strengthened with the development of educational materials, innovative programming, and new delivery techniques. Programs apply research and GIS technologies that enable local officials to make informed decisions to protect water quality. Workshops focus on increasing knowledge of watersheds and water quality, and land use and pollution issues, developing and using case studies of site-specific water resources and research-based approaches for water quality. The volunteer monitoring focus area improved coordination of regional efforts to foster the development, expansion and utility of volunteer monitoring. The focus area serves as a regional clearinghouse for training and development of watershed assessment tools and as a forum to improve community watershed assessments. Improvements in methodology, quality control, data management and volunteer training has strengthened the capacity of the volunteer programs to ensure
that high quality water monitoring information is collected and used by decision makers to protect and restore water resources. Increased efforts on private well protection throughout the region are resulting from the development of The New England Private Well Initiative, a broad-based partnership of agencies and organizations focused on private drinking water well testing and protection. The Initiative encompasses a broad range of partners working together to develop and implement educational programs and materials to protect private drinking water wells, including representatives from Extension, and federal, state and local agencies and organizations. Residential sustainable landscape programs use demonstration sites, publications, websites and trainings to educate and partner with Master Gardeners, residents, and professionals on landscaping techniques for water quality protection. Academic researchers engaged in the establishment of landscape demonstration sites to illustrate
residential BMPs. Volunteers have been trained in a full range of residential pollution prevention techniques and increase the availability of these techniques to the public via a train-the-trainer approach.
Impacts
The approach developed through the efforts of the New England Regional Water Quality Program has enabled us to create an integrated program that facilitates the incorporation of the best available science in regionally developed water quality education and outreach programs that improve the quality of surface and ground water resources in agricultural and rural watersheds throughout the region. Through improved coordination we have fostered an awareness of available resources within the region for water resource protection. We have developed an approach to coordination that has brought about a model of distributed leadership throughout the region. As a result of focus area leadership and coordination we have engaged new partners in our efforts and have provided opportunities to enhance the leadership of Extension water quality programs. We worked with partnering agencies and organizations to identify, develop, and disseminate research-based tools, curricula, and
educational programs that promote voluntary approaches to water quality management at the local level. Extension colleagues as well as our partners have begun to realize the benefits of regional collaboration and approaches to sharing program models and expertise. Through annual regional conferences, workshops and seminars sponsored by the focus area teams, and other activities, we have developed approaches to more fully integrate research, education, and extension within regional water quality work.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/04 to 12/31/04
Outputs
Regional programming is coordinated and generated through four focus areas: Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring; Community Based Watershed Management; Agricultural Management; and, Residential Pollution Prevention. Each focus area has membership from across the region. Each focus area develops an annual strategy for outcome-based programs and work is planned using the Logic Model to develop an outcome-based set of actions and outputs. The New England In-Service Training for Agricultural Service Providers held a two day regional collaborative workshop with USDA NRCS. Research conducted on the Phosphorus Index as an assessment tool to predict potential runoff from a field has been led by the University of Vermont and incorporated into the work at the other New England Land Grant Universities. Extension workshops were conducted to teach the use of the Phosphorus Index to agricultural professionals. Nutrient management plans have been tested and implemented with
aricultural producers to determine appropriate manure and fertilizer applications to reduce excess nutrients from entering surface waterbodies. Residental sustainable landscape programs throughout New England use demonstration gardens and lawns, publications, websites, and workshops to educate and partner with Master Gardeners, residents, professional landscaping organizations, retail garden centers and garden clubs on landscaping techniques for water quality protections. Community based watershed management programs partner with the National NEMO Network, applying research and geo-spatial technologies that enable local officials to make informed decisions to protect water quality. The application of research and educational programs, hands-on training, and workshops educate municipal boards, watersheds and environmental orgainizations, and state and local agencies throughout New England on the use of geo-spatial technologies for watershed management. Extension volunteer water quality
monitoring programs participate in the New England Regional Monitoring Collaborative have developed assessment tools to expand upon conventional water monitoring techniques. Regional programming on private drinking water well protection continues in partnership with US EPA New England. Regional publications are in the development phase. The New England webpage articulates the capacity of the New England Region Water Qualituy Program to address our focus areas. Use statistics are collected daily on the website. Since the site went online in September 2001, there have been over 192,469 requests with a daily average of 152 requests. For 2004, the total number of requests was 66,695. The New England Program also hosts and coordinates the development of the National Program Website. During this time frame, expanded development took place on three National Theme pages including: animal waste management; drinking water and human health; and water conservation.
Impacts
Coordination among partnering agencies to strengthen the New England Water Quality Program in priority watershed areas. Increased opportunities for state agency representatives, consulting professionals, and other to participate in CE educational programs. Strengthening of coordination and communication with federal and state agencies in delivery of community-based education and development of a watershed-based approach to State water resource management. Participation in alliances established to improve interagency coordination in delivery of community-based education. Enhanced coordination among Extension and research interactions with Extension water quality programs throughout the region. Development and delivery of effective Extension watershed management tools such as agricultural BMPs, NEMO community-based watershed management programs, pollution prevention programs such as Home*A*Syst/Farm*A*Syst and volunteer water quality monitoring. Summarized
accomplishments, lessons learned, and successful approaches disseminated to partners, other regional programs, and CSREES through the project web pages and other information networks.
Publications
- New England Region Water Quality Program. 2004. New England Private Well Initiative. Program Impact Statement.
- New England Region Water Quality Program. 2004. Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring: New England Collaborations. Program Impact Statement.
- New England Region Water Quality Program. 2004. Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring: New England Programs. Program Impact Statement.
- New England Region Water Quality Program. 2004. Agricultural Research to Action in Extension. Program Impact Statement.
- New England Region Water Quality Program. 2004. Nutrient Management for Livestock Farms. Program Impact Statement.
- New England Region Water Quality Program. 2004. The Use of GIS in Watershed Management. Program Impact Statement.
- New England Region Water Quality Program. 2004. Residential Sustainable Landscaping for Water Quality Protection. Program Impact Statement.
- New England Region Water Quality Program. 2004. New England NEMO - Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials. Program Impact Statement.
- New England Region Water Quality Program. 2004. New England Onsite Wastewater Training Program. Program Impact Statement.
|
Progress 01/01/03 to 12/31/03
Outputs
Regional programming is generated and coordinated though four focus areas: Volunteer Monitoring; Community Based Watershed Management; Agricultural Management; and, Residential Pollution Prevention. Each focus area has membership from across the region. Each focus area develops an annual strategy for outcome based programs and work is planned using the Logic Model to develop an outcome based set of actions and outputs. Focus areas develop new educational resources, conduct interstate training, incorporate research findings into educational programming, share successful methods and tools, develop partnerships with national and regional agencies and organizations, and engage in locally-based demonstration projects to develop new insights and refine specific activities that will strengthen focus area outcomes throughout the region. The New England Project website continues to be updated and expanded. The website represents the overall New England Program as well as the
New England Focus Areas. This page serves to represent our thematic-based programs to Federal, State and local agencies and organizations and assists with strengthening the New England Program with partnering agencies. In addition, the webpage articulates the capacity of the New England Region Water Quality Program to address our focus areas and allows the focus area teams to serve as a resource to Extension programs within the region and the nation. Use statistics are collected daily on the New England Regional website. Since the website went on-line in September 2001, there have been over 86,000 requests, with a daily average of 126 requests. New England website is at http://www.usawaterquality.org/newengland. Coordination, development, and facilitation of the national web page occurs at the University of Rhode Island, Cooperative Extension Water Quality Program. The national website went public in November 2002 and is located at www.usawaterquality.org. The New England Regional
Annual Meeting was held December 4 & 5, 2003 at the University of Rhode Island. The meeting was attended by Extension water quality faculty and staff and colleagues from the US Environmental Protection Agency New England, Sea Grant Programs throughout New England, and non-profit organizations. The focus of the 2003 meeting was Strengthening Our New England Extension Programs Through Research and Partnerships.
Impacts
Coordination among partnering agencies to strengthen the New England Water Quality Program in priority watershed areas. Increased opportunities for state agency representatives, consulting professionals, and other to participate in CE educational programs. Strengthening of coordination and communication with federal and state agencies in delivery of community-based education and development of a watershed-based approach to State water resource management. Participation in alliances established to improve interagency coordination in delivery of community-based education. Enhanced coordination among Extension and research interactions with Extension water quality programs throughout the region. Development and delivery of effective Extension watershed management tools such as agricultural BMPs, NEMO community-based watershed management programs, pollution prevention programs such as Home*A*Syst/Farm*A*Syst and volunteer water quality monitoring. Summarized
accomplishments, lessons learned, and successful approaches disseminated to partners, other regional programs, and CSREES through the project web pages and other information networks.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/02 to 12/31/02
Outputs
The CSREES New England Regional Water Quality Program works to improve water quality management through educational knowledge and extension programming that emerges from a research base. This program builds on the strengths of the Extension Water Quality Programs at the Land Grant Universities througout New England. The focus area theme teams plan and coordinate activities to carry out the regional program activities in the following areas: Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring; Community based Watershed Education; Residential Pollution Prevention; and Agricultural Best Management Practices. The steering committee conducts monthly conference calls. An annual meeting is held to coordinate the activities within the focus areas as well as between focus areas. Meetings occur with other 406 regional projects to coordinate activities and resources on a national basis.
Impacts
The creation of the New Englan Regional Water Quality Program will strengthen and enhance the capacity of all the New England States to deliver high quality, research-based educational programs within respective states. The program streamlines coordination and fosters partnerships with federal agencies in the region. In October, 2002 the Residential Pollution Prevention focus area received a funding from EPA New England to develop and deliver materials aimed at educating private well owners on the benefits of water testing. The Agricultural Best Management focus area is developing a regional agronomy guide with funding from the New England CE directors. The Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring foucs area is coordinating with the New England Regional Monitoring Collaborative to conduct regional conferences and training programs.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 09/14/01 to 03/20/02
Outputs
The New England Water Quality web page has been launched and is serving as a model for the other funded regions and for the national program web page. The model was presented at the National Water Quality Coordinator's meeting in San Antonio, Texas in March 2001. The page is located at www.usawaterquality.org. The regional website represents the overall New England Program as well as the New England Focus Areas. This page serves to represent our thematic-based programs to Federal, State and local agencies and organizations. Monthly conference calls of the project steering committee and focus area facilitators occur to continue progress and coordination. Coordination among focus area teams is implemented. Each team coordinates through a combination of phone conversations, listservs, email, and face-to-face meetings. In May 2001, the Project Steering Committee met with EPA Region 1 representatives in Boston to begin coordination with EPA New England. Regional
coordination effort underway with EPA to address private drinking water well protection. This was the first of many meetings with EPA. First annual New England Region Water Quality conference held in December 2001. Efforts continue to develop training modules for delivery over the web and at regional meetings. Meetings and conference calls were held with other 406 regional projects to coordinate activities activities and resources on a national basis.
Impacts
Coordination among partnering agencies to strengthen the New England Water Quality Program in place-based priority watershed areas. Increased opportunities for state agency representatives, consulting professionals, and others to participate in CE educational programs. Strengthening of coordination and communication with federal and state agencies in delivery of community-based education and development of a watershed-based approach to State water resource management. Participation in alliances established to improve interagency coordination in delivery of community-based education. These groups include: the New England Federal Partners, the Volunteer Monitoring Network and others. Increased Extension leadership in community-based outreach under federal watershed partnerships such as the Pawcatuck Watershed Project, the Connecticut and Blackstone/Woonasquatucket National River Heritage Watersheds, Narragansett Bay, Casco Bay, Long Island Sound, and Great Bay National
Estuary Programs. Enhanced coordination among Extension and research interactions with Extension water quality programs throughout New England. Development and delivery of effective extension watershed management tools such as agricultural best management practices, community-based watershed management, pollution preventions programs as Home*A*Syst/Farm*A*Syst and volunteer water quality monitoring. Summarized accomplishments, lessons learned, and successful community-based outreach methods disseminated to partners, other regional programs and CSREES through the project web pages other information networks.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 01/01/00 to 12/31/00
Outputs
During the first three months of this project we initiated the organizational structure and program activities. Conference calls and face-to-face meetings at the University of Rhode Island were used to kick off the project. Theme teams were created that recomposed of staff from two or three New England Land Grant Universities. These teams began to plan and coordinate activities to carry out the regional program activities in the following areas: Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring; Community-based Watershed Education; Residential Pollution Prevention and Agricultural Best Management Practices. A template for the project's online web presence was developed. The web page will provide high quality, spatially explicit information on water quality educational activities within New England Land Grant Universities and target multiple audiences. The key audiences will be Extension staff within New England and regional representatives of federal agencies involved in water
quality and watershed programming. Needs assessments are now underway to improve the capacity of extension staff throughout all New England states to deliver a complete suite of water quality educational programs. Planning is underway to develop training modules for delivery over the web and at regional meetings. Meetings were held with other 406 regional projects to coordinate activities and resources on a national basis.
Impacts
The creation of the New England Regional Water Quality Program will strengthen and enhance the capacity of all the New England States to deliver high quality, research-based educational programs to their respective states. The program will streamline coordination and foster partnerships with federal agencies in the region. States will benefit from working together as a unified entity and by sharing contacts, educational programs and staff resources.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|