As part of our continuing initiative on Building Capacity in Illinois Watersheds, PRN, along with the Illinois EPA and U.S. EPA, held workshops this summer, in Chicago and Champaign, on “Using On-Line Data and Tools for Your Watershed.” These workshops taught participants how to evaluate pollution sources in their watersheds and create customized maps.

The goal of these workshops was to teach watershed planners, managers, and citizens from locally-led watershed projects how to use and display publicly available information on local water pollution problems in order to generate support for their efforts and strategize planning efforts.

Participants explored EPA’s “Surf Your Watershed” website to find information specific to their watersheds, including details about impaired waters. They learned how to use an interactive on-line mapping tool and layer data from EPA water quality stations, EPA regulated facilities, USGS water monitoring stations, and the National Wetlands Inventory.

Participants provided positive feedback, particularly about the hands-on nature of the workshop. PRN thanks the hard-working and enthusiastic team from U.S. EPA Region 5, who designed and presented the workshop material: Cyd Curtis, Environmental Scientist; Tom Davenport, National Nonpoint Source Expert & Region 5 Agricultural Advisor; Janice Huang, Systems Design and Support; Carmen Masó, GIS Analyst; and Lucy Stanfield, GIS Specialist.

PRN also thanks, Jennifer Nebe, Water Resource Specialist from “Save the Dunes Conservation Fund”, who shared how her organization has used on-line data and tools to reach their conservation goals. Jennifer also showed participants how to use U.S. EPA’s “Nonpoint Source Outreach Toolbox” to create a personalized public service announcement.

And, thanks to Kim Erndt (PRN) who shared a variety of on-line resources for watershed groups to use as they create plans and meet their goals, including PRN’s “Toolkit for Watershed Groups” and U.S. EPA’s “Getting In Step.”

Funding for these Capacity Building Workshops is provided by IEPA and U.S. EPA
through Section 319 of the Clean Water Act.