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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