In 2006, Wilkes University become a partner or service provider as part of the C-SAW Program. The Consortium for Scientific Assistance to Watersheds (C-SAW) is a team of specialists who provide eligible watershed groups, environmental groups, or local grassroots project sponsors Program Management and Scientific Technical Assistance through the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (PADEP) Growing Greener Program. The service is at no cost to eligible groups. At present there are nine partners that are members of the C-SAW Program. In addition to Wilkes University, the other partners are: Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring at Dickinson College, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Pennsylvania Lake Management Society, Stroud Water Research Center, Pennsylvania RC&D, and United States Geological Survey .
The C-SAW program is operated by the Pocono-Northeast RC&D. The Pocono Northeast Resource Conservation & Development Council (RC&D) is a publicly supported nonprofit (IRS-501c3) organization serving ten counties in northeastern and central Pennsylvania. The goal for C-SAW is to transfer knowledge and skills to watershed groups or local sponsors thereby helping to build their capacity to plan and conduct watershed assessments, and conduct post-implementation monitoring. C-SAW can provide:
Specialists who can help identify solutions and assist your group in the development of monitoring programs, restoration projects, and plans for protection.
Training or conducting assessments and developing restoration projects and protection plans.
C-SAW and Wilkes University can also provide watershed organizations with assistance in watershed assessments and science related to:
Surface water and groundwater resources - Wilkes University offers site-based training for your organization.
Sediment Mapping and Analysis (Metals, Nutrients, and More)
Ambient and event monitoring - Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring
Biological and habitat assessment
Water Quality Testing -Quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) Programs
Microbiology
Surface water and ground water interactions and regional groundwater database.
Atmospheric deposition and Wellhead or Well Field Protection Plans
Agricultural and urban impact issues
Lake monitoring and Watershed monitoring - Wilkes University provides assistance with developing, implementing, and evaluating data (example Crescent Lake and Lake Carey Projects).
Stormwater Management - BMP Selection
Soils evaluations and training in soil science
Abandoned mine discharge, restoration, and treatment
Wetlands and Hydric Soils
In addition, C-SAW can point eligible organizations to assistance provided by other technical experts or service providers through Growing Greener. C-SAW is not designed to conduct monitoring or assessments for watershed organizations. Rather, C-SAW hopes to help watershed organizations do a better job in their own monitoring and assessment.
Who is eligible? - Parties who are eligible to apply for Growing Greener Grants are eligible to receive assistance through C-SAW. Those parties include:
Incorporated watershed organizations recognized by PADEP and established to promote local watershed conservation efforts
Counties, municipalities, and their subdivisions
County Conservation Districts
Charitable organizations or educational institutions involved in research, restoration, rehabilitation, planning, acquisition, development or other activities that further the protection, enhancement, conservation, and preservation of Pennsylvania's environmental resources.
In addition, the project must be one that addresses non-point sources of pollution, mining restoration, or oil and gas well plugging .
C-SAW assistance is available at NO COST to eligible groups.
To learn more - email brian.oram@wilkes.edu or visit us at
http://www.water-research.net/Watershed/watershedtraining.htm
http://www.pnercd.org/csaw.php
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