Students in the Master Watershed Steward program offered by PSU Extension must take 40 hours of classes to become official members, gaining valuable knowledge and skills along the way to protect environmental resources. A PEC employee celebrates his recent graduation.
For just over a decade the Master Watershed Steward program, run through Penn State Extension, has trained and mobilized volunteers across the state in watershed stewardship based on university research and recommendations.
Launched in 2013, the program is currently active in 42 Pennsylvania counties with hundreds of trained stewards. Anyone with a passion for water-related conservation and time to volunteer can become a master watershed steward. No prior experience is required, and members come from a diversity of backgrounds.
“We’ve had engineers, grocery store clerks retired teachers, all sorts of backgrounds. We even had a rare coin collector,” Statewide Master Watershed Steward Program Coordinator Erin Frederick said on Pennsylvania Legacies in 2021. “So anyone that has the slightest interest in the environment can participate in our training and get involved.
PEC Communications Coordinator Derek Maiolo decided to apply for this year’s cohort. He was selected, in part, because of his interest in organizing public events that teach people about local watershed issues while recreating outdoors. The approach is similar to how PEC envisions cultivating a sense of stewardship: the more people get outside, the more they will want to keep the outdoors clean and safe for generations to come.
“I was that kid who was out picking crayfish and hunting for minnows,” Maiolo said. “And so this was just a great way to continue to learn about my local area now that I’m in Pennsylvania and learn about some of the differences here as far as how water is managed where water, my local water comes from and, and that sort of thing.”
Becoming a steward involves 40 hours of training, plus an additional 20 hours of volunteer service for the first year. To maintain stewardship status, members must complete 20 hours of volunteering and 10 hours of update training in subsequent years.
The weekly classes, held over Zoom, cover a range of topics, from identifying invasive species to best practices in agriculture to tips on educating the public. One of Derek’s favorite classes was learning about the macroinvertebrates, like caddisflies and snails, that are a crucial part of aquatic ecosystems, providing food for fish and, by processing organic materials, recycle nutrients back into the system.
“Understanding that we all live in a watershed I think really brought home the importance of keeping our local water clean and healthy,” Maiolo said. “And also, I think understanding how interconnected everything is. So, you know, in a conversation about clean streams, you’re talking about local municipalities, construction homeowners, everybody is affected by the decisions that happen around them. Nothing happens in a vacuum.”
To learn more, visit the program’s website.
Josh Raulerson (00:00):
Today is Friday, July 12th, 2024, and from the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, this is Pennsylvania Legacies. I’m Josh Raulerson. Every state in the U.S. has a Master Gardener’s program where people are trained and deputized to educate their neighbors on horticultural best practices. Master Gardeners serve as a local information resource and as a conduit for research and expertise from University Extension services to their respective communities. Similar to the Master Gardener’s model, but perhaps not quite as well known, is the Master Watershed Stewards program developed by Penn State Extension. Launched in 2013, it’s currently active in 42 Pennsylvania counties with hundreds of master watershed stewards trained and on the alumni rolls all over the Commonwealth. Participants undergo 40 hours of training and complete another 20 hours of volunteer work in order to become certified, and there are ongoing training and service requirements in order to stay active. We explored the program back in 2021 on this podcast in conversation with director Erin Frederick.
Erin Frederick (01:08):
We’ve had engineers, grocery store clerks retired teachers, all sorts of backgrounds. We even had a, a, a rare coin collector, so anyone that has the slightest interest in the environment can participate in our training and get involved.
Josh Raulerson (01:25):
On this episode, we’re getting an inside look at the Master Watershed Stewards program from one of its latest graduates who also happens to be one of our own here at PEC. Communications Coordinator Derek Maiolo completed his training this past spring and is about to lead his first outreach event as a master watershed steward, and he joins us now to talk about it. Derek, welcome. Thanks for doing this.
Derek Maiolo (01:47):
Yeah, happy to be here. Thanks for having me.
Josh Raulerson (01:49):
Talk about how you found out about the Master Watershed Steward Program. What got you interested in participating?
Derek Maiolo (01:55):
Yeah, so last summer I attended a Train on the Trail series with Friends at the Riverfront, and that was hosted by two local master watershed stewards here in Allegheny County. We met at the Millvale Riverfront Park, and I just was very interested by these people who were passionate. You know were not experts in any kind of science, but just really liked you know, learning and, and teaching people about the national world. And that day we learned in particular about the importance of riparian buffers and invasive species. And I talked with them that day about the, you know, how they had become master watershed stewards, and they told me how to apply. They compared it to taking a college level course. You know, they did say it was, it was pretty intense. And you know, you would, you would learn a lot, but that they you know, they really enjoyed it. And it sounded like topics that were right up my alley.
Josh Raulerson (03:00):
So was this a model you were familiar with or was this all brand new?
Derek Maiolo (03:03):
You know, growing up in Colorado, we have Colorado State University has an extension office, and I would when I was younger, I was in 4-H, and so that was through the extension. The model of a master watershed steward. You know, I think I was familiar with Master Gardeners but I had never did not know that there was a similar program for watersheds.
Josh Raulerson (03:27):
Okay. So you said it was, it was comparable to a college class. What, what did you actually have to do? What were the requirements for this?
Derek Maiolo (03:33):
Yeah, so as I understand before Covid, these courses would occur in person, but after Covid we now meet online over Zoom. And so every Thursday for about two and a half hours, we would hear from people either from Penn State University or affiliated experts on a range of topics. So everything from identifying invasive species to managing watersheds to proper disposal of agricultural waste, you know, it really ran the gamut. And the people who would come and present to us, you know, you could just tell they were really passionate about the work that they did. So it was, they always were very interesting to, to hear from. But yeah, it was all over Zoom about once a week with I know some chapters across the state in different counties would also do field trips. We didn’t do that here in Allegheny County. But you know, you would go tour a wastewater management facility or look at green infrastructure around the town or that kind of thing.
Josh Raulerson (04:43):
What was the most interesting topic that was covered? Did you learn anything surprising?
Derek Maiolo (04:48):
I really enjoyed hearing about aquatic species and bugs. There was a whole, like
Josh Raulerson (04:56):
Macro invertebrates, I believe
Derek Maiolo (04:57):
Macros, yes. That, that would be the term. Thank you. The two women who gave that presentation had made this video of them a couple years ago going and, and doing a physical assessment of a creek. So they’re going and, and stirring up the, the dirt and the stones and looking for what bugs are there as an indicator of the health of a stream. And I really liked how much they loved bugs. And some of the pictures, I was amazed by how cute some of them were. I never thought that I would call any kind of insect. Cute.
Josh Raulerson (05:32):
What, what’s the cutest bug, Derek?
Derek Maiolo (05:33):
Oh, man. I’m gonna have to look this up ahead of him, but, but there really was one cute one. And they call them like water bears or something.
Josh Raulerson (05:43):
Water bear is a tardigrade, I think. Right?
Derek Maiolo (05:45):
Okay. I was gonna say, I don’t think it’s a macro invertebrate that might be a a, a micro,
Josh Raulerson (05:51):
So they’re these like puffy guys that Yes, they have like little stubby legs
Derek Maiolo (05:55):
And yes, I think that they’re not quite microscopic. Like you can see them with an naked, naked eye. Just barely Yeah. But just barely. And they do look like an, like an inflated floating bear. Right.
Josh Raulerson (06:03):
So what, like what does that tell you if you run across a lot of water bears in a drop of water?
Derek Maiolo (06:08):
You know, I don’t really know what water bears tell you about a drop of water. I know that, you know, other species like caddisflies can be good indicators of stream health. Others like leeches are, they, they can kind of survive a lot. So I have the sense that creatures that can survive really tough conditions aren’t always great indicators of, of good health. You want to see more of those more sensitive species. Right. That would tell you that a stream is, is in good condition.
Josh Raulerson (06:34):
Did you get to get out in the field as part of the training? Does that come later?
Derek Maiolo (06:38):
So during the courses even before you are officially a, a master watershed steward, and what that means is in order to become an official master watershed steward, you have to complete the 20 hours of courses and then another 20 hours of volunteer work. But even before that point, you can go out and participate in the various projects that are going on around your respective county. And so some of the things that I did, I participated in some cleanups with Allegheny Clean Ways. I volunteered with Upstream PGH doing some work in the Nine Mile Run Watershed where I live, something that Allegheny County Master watershed stewards are doing, are partnering with the county to do assessments on some of the local parks. So I went up to North Park and we did a chemical assessment. So I learned how to measure the alkalinity, the pH various chemical indicators of, of health. I know that they’re also doing physical assessments as well. So going along the stream and checking for things like invasive species, tracking the macro invertebrates coming up. I’ll also be leading a bike ride on the Saturday that will be touring the Ohio River Watershed and talking about some of the history and some of the biology the local ecology.
Josh Raulerson (08:04):
Now, I, I don’t think you have any specific science background. Was this all new to you?
Derek Maiolo (08:10):
Yes, as you can tell, I’m not, I’m no scientist. My, my scientific knowledge is, is pretty limited. But everyone assured me that that’s okay. There are lots of people here who don’t have a science background. So anyone can become a master watershed steward who has an interest in this thing. Yeah. my background is in journalism, but I grew up always loving to go to rivers in Colorado. I lived by, it was called the Yampa River, and it was this treasured local resource that we’d go tubing, rafting. You know, I was that kid who was out picking crayfish and hunting for minnows. And so this was just a great way to continue to learn about my local area now that I’m in Pennsylvania and learn about some of the differences here as far as how water is managed where water, my local water comes from and, and that sort of thing.
Josh Raulerson (09:03):
So it’s, it’s open to anyone, anybody can, can learn it. What kinds of people you know, participate in this program? Did you meet anybody interesting? Did you meet anybody that you wouldn’t expect to encounter in this setting?
Derek Maiolo (09:13):
Yeah. Well, so one of the first people I met, his name is Ruggiero, and I believe he is from Brazil. And he has a background, I think he was staying in IT, and so he wasn’t somebody that I would expect. He, he really enjoys photography and, and getting outside. And so he is someone who’s very active in the local chapter. He manages a lot of the multimedia that comes out. If you see a photo from Allegheny Master Watershed stewards, he probably took it. There’s someone I know who works as an engineer and so has a very technical background, but is also going to be joining in on this bike ride on Saturday. So really it does run the gamut. Laurie, who is the local coordinator, used to be a school teacher so some people with an education background, but yeah, you, you get all types.
Josh Raulerson (10:00):
Has this experience you know, informed the way you think about your job. You and I are not on the program side of what PEC does, but has this contributed to kind of your understanding of the issues we talk about?
Derek Maiolo (10:12):
Yeah, I think it’s put into perspective and, and gotten me out in the world on the ground, seeing all of the things that we talk about and hear about on, on a daily basis. So here in Allegheny County along the Allegheny River, we talk a lot about like for example, this year, the Allegheny is the River of the Year, but actually going out and, and seeing it and studying it, I think gave me a much deeper appreciation for this resource. Also, understanding that we all live in a watershed. I think really brought home the importance of keeping our local water clean and healthy. And also I think understanding how interconnected everything is. So, you know, in a conversation about clean streams, you’re talking about local municipalities, construction homeowners, everybody is affected by the decisions that happen around them. So nothing happens in a vacuum. And I think that really brought home all of those lessons.
Josh Raulerson (11:16):
So people that might want get involved, become a master watershed steward, what should they know? What are the first steps?
Derek Maiolo (11:23):
So I, I think anyone who is interested in becoming a master watershed steward should understand that it is quite a time commitment. A lot of the people, I think I think I’ve been told that I am the youngest person in Allegheny County who is a, a steward. So it does tend to be people who are retired, but anyone who is willing to take the time and to go out and volunteer can become a master watershed steward. But I think with the, with the understanding that it is no small time commitment after you are a steward, you have to continue doing 20 hours of volunteer service per year, as well as 10 hours of continuing education. And so those can range from workshops on green stormwater infrastructure or attending a class with Penn State that is approved that applies to our, our work. But anyone who is passionate about these kind of things and is able to take the time can become a steward. Anyone who wants to know more information can go on Penn State’s website. If you go under, I think it’s Penn state.edu . .
Josh Raulerson (12:34):
Or just reach out to your local extension office.
Derek Maiolo (12:36):
There you go. Yeah. Just reach out to your local extension office.
Josh Raulerson (12:39):
Do you want to talk more about the ride you’re leading this weekend?
Derek Maiolo (12:41):
Yeah, so on this Saturday, July 13th we will be hosting what we’re calling Waterways on Wheels. It’s a Pittsburgh Riverside Trails bike tour. So we will be meeting at the high line along the Monongahela River and biking up towards the hot metal bridge over down to towards Point State Park, hitting some of the big stops along the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. And along the way, talking about a few topics, things like the local history the local steel industry the redbud project, riparian buffers, green infrastructure just allowing people to appreciate and understand the forces that gave them the Riverside Public access that now a lot of people appreciate, and some of the things that are going on in the, in the works to make them better.
Josh Raulerson (13:39):
Was it your idea to do this in the form of a bike ride? This is a very PEC kind of synergy.
Derek Maiolo (13:43):
I think one of the things that really led to my advantage when I applied to become a master watershed steward is my interest in leading outdoor recreation. So I know Laurie talked to me over the phone about during my application process of wanting to lead sojourn, kind of like we do here at POWR and our PEC affiliate. So and also leading a bike ride. So that was definitely something that I was really interested in. It’s something that I don’t think Allegheny County has done as much in the past, but we really want to do more of is getting, reaching people while we’re doing something fun. Yeah. So it’s bike ride, a paddle, anything like that.
Josh Raulerson (14:28):
Is it pretty competitive to get in?
Derek Maiolo (14:30):
As I understand it is fairly competitive. I think every year each county tries to take on no more than 10 new people. And, and it varies obviously of what, what those numbers actually look like as far as how many people are, are involved at any given time. But it is a competitive process. There is an application that you have to fill out interviews, you know, you want to make sure that you, it’s not that you have to have experience, but that you can show that you do want to learn and, and you have the ability to take on this task.
Josh Raulerson (15:02):
They’re probably looking for you to demonstrate you understand, like, the commitment you’re making. Right.
Derek Maiolo (15:06):
Exactly. Yeah. It’s not a, a small one.
Josh Raulerson (15:06):
Yeah. All right. Well Derek, congratulations on becoming a master watershed steward and, and thanks for sharing your knowledge both with the people of Allegheny County and with our listeners.
Derek Maiolo (15:18):
Yeah, thank you very much. Hopefully I’ll see some of some people out on the on future events.
Josh Raulerson (15:27):
Derek Maiolo is communications coordinator for PEC and one of Pennsylvania’s newly minted master watershed stewards. You can learn more about the Master Watershed Stewards program at the Penn State Extension website. We will, of course, have a link in the show notes for this episode at our website, which is at pecpa.org, pecpa.org. There you can also check out our October, 2021 episode on Master Watershed Stewards, as well as 217 more past episodes of Pennsylvania Legacies. All of them are available to stream right there in your web browser on the PEC website. Or you can subscribe in your mobile podcast app to get new episodes as soon as they’re released. If you like what you hear, do us a solid and leave a comment, leave a rating or a review if that’s an option. And it really helps. We appreciate your support. We appreciate your listening to this show, and we hope you’ll join us for the next episode coming your way in about two weeks. Until then, for the Pennsylvania Environmental Council and Derek Maiolo, I’m Josh Raulerson. Thanks for listening.