Elements of a Successful Watershed Restoration Program:

Elements of a Successful Watershed Restoration Program:

Westbrook School took advantage of the numerous programs available to help restore their watershed and bring back the American shad of the Potomac River.  The following is a list of the things that the Westbrook School and its community did to achieve their success and the partners that helped get them there (1995-current):

• Monitored water quality of their stream (Izaak Walton League Save Our Streams program, 1995-2002, Maryland Department of Natural Resources 2002-current). 

• Worked with community and state and local politicians to help get a fish ladder into the dam blocking the shad (Used the Community Action section of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation "Chesapeake Bay Choices and Challenges Curriculum" and the Project WET Watershed Manual).
• Raised and released thousands of American shad (Chesapeake Bay Foundation Schools in Schools Program, 1996-1999, when the Potomac Conservancy and Living Classrooms joined the program.  These three organizations help citizens monitor and restore their local watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay region.)
• Planted 100’s of large native trees along Little Falls Stream (Did this with their local land trust, the Potomac Conservancy and Maryland state foresters)
• Planted a raingarden on their school grounds and a (Chesapeake Bay Foundation web site has information on  how to build a raingarden available for download)
• Planted a wetland at the shad release site by the Potomac River (Izaak Walton League provides information on how to build a wetland)
• Raised and released thousands of rainbow trout for release into a stream feeding their river (Used the Trout Unlimited trout hatchery program)
• Raised and planted river grasses in five large plots of river bottom (Used the new Chesapeake Bay Foundation curriculum "Grasses in Classes" and also worked with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources on this.

Through these efforts, the school and their community were able to celebrate an improved river environment and the comeback of a threatened fish, the shad.

Doing any or all of these activities in your community or school will help your river or stream and its fish.

How you and your community can get involved in a watershed restoration project:

Learn which watershed that you live, work, play or are interested in doing a project in- this becomes your “watershed address”.  A river’s watershed is all of the land from which rain runoff drains into that river. To find your watershed address, visit the 

Environmental Protection Agency’s Surf Your Watershed page at www.epa.gov/surf. 

Explore your stream or river area by map, foot, or boat to identify potential problems.  Seek guidance and take advantage of local watershed organizations such as the Izaak Walton League or Trout Unlimited or state or federal agency programs offered to help your stream, river or watershed. See if any tree or wetland planting programs are available for your school or park area.

 Planting native plants helps stop soil runoff and cleans up the water running off of communities. Trees planted along streams provide shade and the oxygen-rich cool water that fish need.  Fishing education and raise and release programs could be available as well for your group to partner with.

Here is a list of projects that you may want to consider for your watershed including your school or your community center grounds:

1. Plant native plants 
2. Create a native tree nursery
3. Build a raingarden or wetland
4. Plan a trash pickup with you community 
5. Monitor water quality of your local stream or river 
6. Help stocking shad, trout or other fish  (contact your local state fish and game commission or department of natural resources about the schedule of local stocking programs for trout, salmon or fish such as American shad)
7. Participate in the raising and release of fish by joining programs such as those offered by Trout Unlimited, Sea Grant (NOAA) or your local state or federal fish hatchery
8. Educate your community about the importance of clean water by producing a newsletter or making a presentation to your school or civic association.

Below is a representative list of organizations for your community or school to contact to find out how to start an environmental restoration program of your own, from water quality monitoring to habitat restoration projects:

Government organizations:

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Water(home of Volunteer Monitor Newsletter)

• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service -Schoolyard Habitat Program, fish hatchery stocking programs

• National Park Service- (habitat improvement projects)

• U.S. Forest Service (tree plantings)

• NOAA- Sea Grant (habitat improvement projects, raise and release fish programs)

• Natural Resource Conservation Service Conservation Districts (contact the National Association of Conservation Districts to local your county’s district. They provide habitat improvement projects and grants)

• State Department of Natural Resources or Environmental Protection (Adopt a Stream programs, habitat restoration, tree plantings)

• Department of Fish and Game or Fish and Boating Commission (fish stockings-contact your state agency for their stocking schedule-and fishing clinics ).

• State Parks Department (nature centers and parks-great information on you river or streams ecology)

• State Department of Forestry (your state forester- available for habitat improvement projects featuring tree plantings)

• City or county government (local park or nature center)

Nonprofit Conservation Organizations and Programs:

(contact the national organization to find your local chapter or do a search on the Web) 

• Audubon Society

• Coastal Conservation Association
• Ducks Unlimeted
• GLOBE project (water quality monitoring)

• Izaak Walton League (home of Save Our Streams program)
• Nature Conservancy
• Ocean Conservancy
• Projects WET and WILD
• Restore America's Estuaries
• Riverkeeper for your river (contact Riverkeeper Alliance)
• River Network
• Sierra Club
• Trout Unlimited (contact the national office in Arlington, Va. To find out your local chapter
• your Local Watershed Organization or Land Trust

For a comprehensive listing of educational and project planning resources, visit the Izaak Walton League’s web site at www.iwla.org/sos/resources or call the League’s watershed assistance line at 800-BUG-IWLA.

Funding for Restoration and Monitoring Programs:

Funding for the Schools in Schools portion of the shad restoration project was provided by grants from a statewide funding source for Maryland residents: the Chesapeake Bay Trust.  Put text here.

Your state may have such a program or you can help to start it. Contact the Chesapeake Bay Trust for more information.

Also contact your Department of Natural Resources or Environmental Protection for possible funding sources available in your state.

National Funding Sources:

Funding for restoration programs can come from foundations such as the Fish America Foundation or National Fish and Wildlife Foundation or through conservation organizations such as Ducks Unlimited and Trout Unlimited. Federal grants are also available through government agencies such as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.