WSA Mission
The Howard County Watershed Stewards Academy increases the number and diversity of trained volunteers who become Master Watershed Stewards. These Stewards have the knowledge and skill required to enhance the health of our local streams, rivers, and lakes. Master Watershed Stewards also work with their community to provide the best storm water management practices.
The Howard County Watershed Stewards Academy is a training program to empower residents to improve the water quality of local streams. Stewards become community leaders in reducing harmful effects of polluted storm water running off into our streams.
Master Watershed Stewards improve water quality by:
- Planting native trees and plants, and removing invasive plants
- Surveying streams
- Stenciling storm drains
- Engaging Homeowners Associations
- Conducting residential site assessments
- Planting stream side forest buffers
- Recommending, designing, and installing storm water remediation
- Providing workshops and presentations
In 2022 the WSA reached over1,000 citizens with information and training, surveyed nearly a dozen streams, performed 30 property assessments, and logged nearly 2,000 volunteer hours.
In-ground contributions included planting over1,700 native plants, treating 7,000 square feet of impervious area and being instrumental in the installation of nearly 3,000 square feet of best management practices.
The Academy provides Stewards knowledge and expertise from lecturers, training in using watershed assessment tools for analyzing storm water runoff and hands-on experience installing a solution to a storm water management problem. Experienced storm water management practitioners provide Stewards with on-going support for community projects.
Master Watershed Steward Certification
Master Watershed Steward Certification prepares volunteers that help protect, restore, and aid in the conservation of local watersheds within their own communities. This course teaches the skills needed to assess residential storm water issues such as:
• Understanding soil profiles
• GIS land application
• Other citizen science-based tools required to apply best management practices to help treat storm water related conditions
When certified, Stewards become a part of a network of local professionals and volunteers who work to reduce storm water pollution. Course participants are required to complete the certification process which has a lecture component (September – December). This is generally a weekly Tuesday evening set of sessions with occasional Saturday outings. There is also a capstone project component that involves a practical demonstration of acquired skills through community-based activities (January – July). Here are examples of a recent capstone project.
We provide property owners with assessments that help them correct erosion problems and storm water damage. We also work with Homeowners Associations, Condominium Associations, Schools, Scouts, Businesses and Non Profit Organizations to inform and help them prevent pollution.
HPCSS Partnership — WSA has partnered with the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) to collaborate on a variety of activities and programs that educate staff and students about improving the health of local streams and waterways.
Community Ecology Institute Partnership — CEI and WSA were awarded a prestigious Cornerstone Award by the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources for our Freetown Walkable Watershed project’s achievements in “Optimizing Urban Environments.” You can download CEI’s Annual Report and find WSA noted there. You can also read more about the Cornerstone Award and the hard work done by Terry and others at WSA.
Many of our Stewards participate in the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Stream Waders program. The Stream waders sample sites for use in stream quality assessments, educate the local community about the relationship between land use and stream quality, provide quality assured information on stream quality to state, local, and federal agencies, environmental organizations, and others. The goal is to improve stream stewardship ethics and encourage local action to improve watershed management.
Thank You
We wish to thank the many people and organizations who have made the information available on this web site and who help with Storm Water remediation. Some of them include the Anne Arundel County WSA, the National Fish and Wildlife Service, Chesapeake Stormwater Network, and many more.
How WSA Started
The Howard County WSA has been developed by an Advisory Committee with members from University of Maryland Extension-Howard County, Howard County Office of Community Sustainability and Dept. of Public Works, Columbia Association, Howard County Legacy Leadership Institute for the Environment and the local volunteer community. We have benefited from the advice and cooperation of the Watershed Stewards Academies of Anne Arundel County and the National Capitol Region. Grant funding to develop this program came from National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, Toyota Together Green, and Howard County.
Friends and Partners
