Watershed Training Certificate
           What Users Say...
                                                                                        &EPA
United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
                                                                                     EPA-841-F-00-010
                                                                                     December 2000
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 Earn  a  Watershed Management
 Training Certificate!
 You can document your learning by meeting the
 requirements  for the  Watershed Academy's
 Watershed Management Training Certificate. The
 certificate program recognizes website visitors who
 complete 15 required modules and pass their self-
 tests with  grades of 70% or higher (retesting  is
 permitted).

 People from throughout the US  and several foreign
 countries have  completed the certificate program.
 They include scientists and non-scientists, local, state
 and federal agency staff, community leaders, consult-
 ants, college students, active citizens, and others.

 After completing certificate requirements, provide
 your  full name  and  mailing   address  to
 wacademy@epa.gov. We will mail you a signed cer-
 tificate to add to your resume.
 Work with us...
 Are you an educator? Use our modules as the frame-
 work for a watershed course and add your own lec-
 tures, discussions or readings. Or, send us ideas for
 more modules.
  "The long distance learning classes work well
  with my schedule as I am in and out of the
  office... I can work for a few minutes or maybe an
  hour if I have time."

  -Don Kirby
  Superintendent of Streets
  City of Staunton, Virginia

  "It's been a treat for myself that I have set aside
  and savored because it's training I'm getting for
  me as well as my watershed organization. I'm so
  glad this sort of thing is online!"

  -Lisa Jo Freeh, Executive Director
  Nanticoke Watershed Alliance
  Tyaskin, MD

  "I find the modules very well crafted, with good
  information. In the future, I am contemplating
  using  some of them directly in lecture as starting
  points for more detailed discussion."

  -N. Earl Spangenberg
  College of Natural Resources
  University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
  About the Watershed Academy
  The Watershed Academy was started by the EPA's
  Office of Water in 1994 to provide training courses
  and educational materials on the basics of a
  watershed approach. Our target audience includes
  local, state, tribal, and federal officials as well as
  citizens and private practitioners of watershed
  management. The Watershed Academy has four
  main components:
       Live watershed training courses;
       Web-based training;
       Information Transfer Series publications;
  and
       State/Tribal watershed program assistance.
for more information  see:
http://www.epa.sov/owow/watershed/wacademv.htm
                                                                                                      Office of Water (4503F)
                                                                             http://www.epa.gov/owow
                                                                                                        Watershed Academy
                                                                                                         Web-Based Training

                                                                                                               Distance Learning Modules
                                                                                                         on Key Watershed Management Topics
                                                                                                              (modules run 1/2 to 2 hrs each)
                                                                                          Training courses won't fit in your schedule?

                                                                                          Can't get funding for watershed training?

                                                                                          Instead, why not learn online?

                                                                                          Watershed Academy Web  (formerly
                                                                                          Academy  2000) enables any PC with
                                                                                          Internet access  to become your watershed
                                                                                          training classroom - when your schedule
                                                                                          allows, and at no cost.

                                                                                          Watershed  Academy Web modules offer
                                                                                          basic instruction on the many disciplines
                                                                                          that make up watershed management.

                                                                                              http://www.epa. gov/watertrain

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Introducing Watershed Academy Web
                                d
Nationwide, even worldwide,
thousands  of people want
watershed  training. Many
obstacles stand in the way: few
course offerings, rigid training
schedules vs. busy jobs, tuition
and  travel   costs,  narrow
coverage of topics, limited time in classroom. As an
alternative to classroom learning, EPA's Watershed
Academy Web offers self-paced training modules
through the  Internet, providing a basic but broad
introduction to the many facets of watershed
management.

These modules cover the most important watershed
management topics - those subjects about which
watershed managers, local  officials,  involved
citizens, decision makers, and others should have an
introductory level of knowledge.

Our goal is to make this basic but broad introduction
to watershed management available to anyone who
has Internet access. The length
and complexity of each module
varies, but most are at the college
freshman level of  instruction.
Students and citizens new to the
watershed field can use Water-
shed  Academy Web as basic
training. More experienced wa-
tershed practitioners may use it
for review, study specific mod-
ules to fill gaps, or use our mod-
ules for introducing watershed
principles to others. Professors
use our modules  in college
courses.
    http://www.epa.gov/watertrain

Watershed Academy Web is the first online, interac-
tive "watershed textbook/lecture series" that is free
to the public. Our website now has over 35 modules
and more continually under development. Many were
authored by well-known figures in watershed man-
agement. Most modules have 25 to 50 color illustra-
tions and photos, unlike an average technical paper.
Many have interactive exercises, related links and ref-
erences, and self-tests. Our web-based training doesn't
duplicate a live class, but it has the following strengths:
Public access, no cost
There is no charge and it is available anytime, any-
where in the world. No registration is required -just
go online and start learning.

Coverage of key topics
Web-based training is not limited to what can fit in a
1 or 2-day course.

Self-paced instruction and review
Students control their own pace to fit their browsing
style and work schedules, and can review modules at
any time.
                                 File Edit View  Go Communicator Help
(at right) an example module, with
color graphics and text, glossary,
links, and interactive test.
                                         8 Tools of Watershed Protection
                                           Eight Tools of Watershed
                                       Protection in Developing Areas
                                 NOTE: Advance to the next
                                                near
                                                   slide by clicking on the black "NEXT" arrow
                                                   the top of your screen.
                         This module outlines a watershed
                         protection approach that applies
                         eight tools to protect or restore
                         aquatic resources in an urbanized or
                         developing watershed It describes
                         the nature and purpose of the eight
                         watershed protection tools, outlines
                         some specific techniques for applying
                         the tools, and highlights some key
                         choices a watershed manager (used
                         here as a catch-all term for any
                         persons, agencies or organizations
                         who contribute to managing
                         watersheds) should consider when
                         applying or adapting the tools within
                         a given watershed. Red-Highlighted
                         terms in this narrative are defined in
                         the glossary (see the glossary
                         button near the top of your
                         screen).
Watershed Academy Web Topics


We've organized the modules around these six themes
that span the watershed management field:

Introduction/Overview
These modules introduce the principles of the
watershed approach and the value of working at a
watershed level.

Watershed Ecology
These modules show that watersheds are natural
systems that provide  substantial benefits to people
and the environment  when allowed to function
properly.

Watershed Change
These modules describe both natural and human-
induced changes in watersheds, and compare
normal changes with  changes of concern.

Analysis and Planning
These modules address how watershed planning,
monitoring, and assessment are important steps
toward finding solutions.
Management Practices
These modules show how watershed management
challenges like urban runoff, cropland management,
forestry and other issues are addressed by tech-
niques that reduce environmental impacts.

Community/Social Context
These modules cover social issues, communica-
tions, relevant laws and regulations. They concen-
trate on the human element of watershed manage-
ment.
                                                                                                                        see http://www.epa.gov/owow/ for more
                                                                                                                         information on watershed protection

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