Become a watershed steward

Published 5:00 pm Wednesday, September 18, 2002

North Coast residents can learn about watersheds and how they work, and take an active part in the stewardship of their watersheds through the Watershed Stewardship Education Program coming to Clatsop County in October.

As part of the Oregon State University Extension Service, the WSEP offers a core curriculum of eight education sessions that provide practical watershed education to watershed groups and conservation districts, individuals such as farm and woodland owners, and other interested residents. No special skills or background are needed.

Taught by experts from OSU and other natural resource professionals, the sessions include Watershed and Stream Processes, Salmonid Biology, Soils, Erosion and Conservation, Riparian Area Functions and Management, Stream Assessment and Restoration, Wetland Evaluation and Enhancement, Working Together to Create Successful Groups and Water Quality Monitoring. Each session includes an indoor class and either a field or a hands-on class. Sessions start Oct. 3 and continue through Jan. 11.

Participants can attend as Master Watershed Stewards (completing all education sessions and a 40-hour project), Watershed Stewards (completing all education sessions) or just attend individual sessions. Cost is $64 for Master Watershed Stewards and $85 for Watershed Stewards. Both receive a Learning Guide, the primary resource notebook. Individual sessions are $16, which covers two indoor sessions and a field day. The Learning Guide is optional at $21. The program is accredited with the Certified Crop Advisors Program and the Associated Oregon Loggers.

To register, call the OSU Extension Office at 325-8573. Space is limited. For more information on the program, visit the Web site seagrant.orst.edu/wsep