The 34th Annual Evening for Northeast Pennsylvania’s Environment, hosted by PEC, was held Oct. 17 at the Woodlands Inn and Resort. This post is part of a series celebrating the six local initiatives and two individuals recognized for their contributions to environmental protection and restoration in the region.
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The Pennsylvania Master Watershed Steward Program encompasses nearly 1,000 stewards across 42 counties volunteering their time to make a positive impact in their watersheds. Operated under Penn State Extension, the program equips stewards with knowledge about a range of watershed science and management practices, as well as how to educate the public.
The Lackawanna Luzerne County MWS chapter began in 2016 and since then, stewards have reported 3,203 volunteer hours and directly reached 3,068 community members through their work.
Stewards can choose from a variety of volunteer opportunities, from stream cleanups to chemical assessments to more casual “Tap Talks,” which invite the public to engage in watershed education at local breweries.
Cathy Tombasco joined as a steward in 2020 amid the pandemic.
“It was one of the few good things that happened with Covid,” she said, because the adoption of virtual meetings made training sessions accessible to her.
A retired teacher, Tombasco particularly enjoys working with children, inspiring the next generation of stewards. Since joining the program, she has also repaired riparian buffers, helped to plan Riverfest in Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, and more.
To make these projects a success, the Master Watershed Steward program often partners with other organizations. Local partners have included Luzerne County’s Master Gardener program, Wyoming Valley Sanitation Authority, and Lackawanna River Conservation Authority, to name a few.
“We can’t do any of these things alone,” Tombasco said.
Reflecting on her tenure as a Master Watershed Steward, Tombasco said the program has given her a deeper appreciation of the interconnectedness of the communities and ecosystems around her.
“We all live downstream,” she said. “We have to look at the big picture.”
In honor of Lackawanna/Luzerne County Master Watershed Stewards’ collaborative approach to environmental improvements, PEC awarded them a 2024 Environmental Partnership Award. They were honored at the 34th Annual Evening for Northeast Pennsylvania’s Environment on Oct. 17 at the Woodlands Inn & Resort, Plains, PA. To learn more about the awards and to see the full list of this year’s winners, click here.