Extension to offer Arkansas Watershed Stewardship training program
Sept. 21, 2022
By the U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts:
- Online sessions at 10 a.m. Oct 6, 13, 20, 27
- Watershed steward program aims to improve water quality in Arkansas, increase volunteers
Training is free
Register Here
(438 words)
LITTLE ROCK — Protecting water quality is something everyone can do to some degree — but sometimes, we all need a little help getting started.
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of a multi-agency partnership supporting the Arkansas Watershed Steward Program, an educational program focusing on the protection, improvement and maintenance of water quality in Arkansas. The Cooperative Extension Service is the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
John Pennington, extension water quality educator for the Division of Agriculture, said maintaining, improving and protecting water quality in Arkansas is up to all citizens, communities, businesses and industries.
“There are a lot of opportunities every day for people to protect and improve water quality in Arkansas,” Pennington said.
Arkansas has more than 600,000 acres of surface water, 91,000 miles of streams and 282 identified aquifers. Water resources, however, need protection and restoration from activities that influence the quality of the water and the health of the land from which it flows.
“Ultimately, protecting water quality is up to everyone,” Pennington said. “We all have a role to play and it often begins with learning more.”
Pennington said the broad goals of the Arkansas Watershed Steward Program are to:
- Make citizens more aware of and knowledgeable about water issues.
- Help individuals become community leaders in dealing with water issues.
- Facilitate local efforts and activities to improve water quality.
- Improve and protect the quality of local water resources.
For this program, extension is partnering with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division and other agencies and organizations.
An upcoming training series will be offered online, via Zoom, each starting at 10 a.m. CST:
- October 6 — Introduction to Arkansas Watersheds and Watershed Stewardship Program
- October 13 — Overview of Arkansas Water Quality and Quantity
- October 20 — Managing to Improve Water Quality in Arkansas
- October 27 — Advanced Arkansas Watershed Stewardship
The training is free, but registration is required. More information and registration are available at https://bit.ly/3BRzwtR. Learn more about the Arkansas Watershed Steward Program at https://www.uaex.uada.edu/environment-nature/water/ar-watershed-stewardship.aspx.
The training was developed by the Cooperative Extension Service in collaboration with
the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts, Arkansas Natural Resources Division,
Beaver Water District, Central Arkansas Water, Arkansas Master Naturalists, Arkansas
State University, Arkansas Forestry Division, Arkansas Game and Fish Stream Team and
several non-profit watershed organizations as part of an effort to help reduce nonpoint
source pollution to waterways of the state. Representatives from the Arkansas Natural
Resources Division, American Water Works Association, Cooperative Extension and Central
Arkansas Water will provide the training.
This program is made possible by funding provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and Arkansas Natural Resources Division.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu/. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media Contact:
Ryan McGeeney
rmcgeeney@uada.edu
@Ryan_McG44
501-671-2120