Extension To Offer Arkansas Watershed Stewardship Training Program
LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS
Protecting water quality is something everyone can do to some degree – but sometimes, we all need a little help getting started.
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of a multi-agency partnership supporting the Arkansas Watershed Steward Program, an educational program focusing on the protection, improvement and maintenance of water quality in Arkansas. The Cooperative Extension Service is the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
John Pennington, extension water quality educator for the Division of Agriculture, said maintaining, improving and protecting water quality in Arkansas is up to all citizens, communities, businesses and industries.
“There are a lot of opportunities every day for people to protect and improve water quality in Arkansas,” Pennington said.
Arkansas has more than 600,000 acres of surface water, 91,000 miles of streams and 282 identified aquifers. Water resources, however, need protection and restoration from activities that influence the quality of the water and the health of the land from which it flows.
“Ultimately, protecting water quality is up to everyone,” Pennington said. “We all have a role to play and it often begins with learning more.”
Pennington said the broad goals of the Arkansas Watershed Steward Program are to:
• Make citizens more aware of and knowledgeable about water issues.
• Help individuals become community leaders in dealing with water issues.
• Facilitate local efforts and activities to improve water quality.
• Improve and protect the quality of local water resources.
For this program, extension is partnering with the Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Division and other agencies and organizations.
An upcoming training series will be offered online, via Zoom, each starting at 10 a.m. CST:
• October 6 – Introduction to Arkansas Watersheds and Watershed Stewardship Program
• October 13 – Overview of Arkansas Water Quality and Quantity • October 20 – Managing to Improve Water Quality in Arkansas
• October 27 – Advanced Arkansas Watershed Stewardship The training is free, but registration is required. More information and registration are available at https://bit.ly/3BRzwtR. Learn more about the Arkansas Watershed Steward Program at https://www.uaex.uada.edu/environment-nature/water/ar-watershed-stewardship.aspx ∆
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of a multi-agency partnership supporting the Arkansas Watershed Steward Program, an educational program focusing on the protection, improvement and maintenance of water quality in Arkansas.
Division of Agriculture photo