We're interested in gathering information on the good work made possible by Pennsylvania Conservation Districts' watershed specialists. The Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts, Inc. (PACD) and the Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (WPCAMR) have jointly developed an online survey to ask each of PA's County Conservation districts to tell us about their top projects where a watershed specialist has been instrumental. Those surveys were distributed to the CDs' district managers and watershed specialists.

We are gearing up to advocate for future funding for Pennsylvania Watershed Specialist positions beyond 2010, when current funding is scheduled to run out.

What information is being collected?

We're interested in the top 3 projects for each PA Conservation District where a watershed specialist has been instrumental.  For each of 3 projects, we ask for the following information:

• The projects's title
• Municipality
• Watershed
• Year of completion
• Cost
• Funding source(s)
• Watershed Specialist name
• Project categories, e.g. erosion and sedimentation control, abandoned mine reclamation
• Brief description of project including partnerships, environmental outcomes, and role of Watershed Specialist

We'll also ask for the following background information :

• Conservation District county name
• The current Watershed Specialist's name and years on the job
• The survey respondent's name, affiliation with the conservation district, and email address.
• Additional comments

Note: Links to the survey instrument have be sent to both the district manager and watershed specialist in each of PA's Conservation Districts. Although separate responses will be accepted, they are not required.  If a Conservation District intends to respond only once (which we assume is normally the case), please coordinate your work so that only one survey form is completed and submitted.

Tips in filling out the survey

It may be helpful to first gather the information specified in the above topic.

The survey form is a web-based tool that may be accessed by clicking on the link provided via the email survey invitation.   It has 5 pages:

• Page 1 collects the background information listed above
• Pages 2, 3, and 4 each collect one of the top 3 projects' information listed above
• Page 5 allows you to provide any additional comments, AND SUBMIT THE COMPLETED SURVEY.

Although the total time for actual data entry will probably be less than one half hour, you do NOT have to complete the entire survey in one sitting.    You may exit the survey at any time by clicking the "Exit survey" link on the top right of each survey page.  Up until the survey closes (May 15), you may re-enter your partially completed survey by again using the link provided via the email survey invitation. 

To navigate from page to page, use the "NEXT" and "PREV" buttons near the bottom of each survey page.

IMPORTANT: When you are satisfied that the information you've entered is complete, please be certain to click on the "DONE" button near the bottom of page 5.

What we will do with the collected information

We intend to develop informational materials of the collective and individual accomplishments of watershed specialists so we may better inform the public and decision makers.  This is especially important in that funding for these positions is set only through 2010.  

• PACD will use the collected information in developing a fact sheet on the roles and positive impacts made by Watershed Specialists.
• WPCAMR will use the information to showcase Watershed Specialists' work in its e-newsletter Abandoned Mine Posts.

In both cases, either PACD or WPCAMR may follow up with respondents to get more information on the projects they listed. Our goal is the development of materials which may benefit efforts for continued support of the Watershed Specialist positions beyond 2010.

Contact us

Should you have any questions regarding the survey tool, its contents or use, please contact either:

• Kathleen Banski, PACD, kathleen-banski@pacd.org  717-238-7223 ext. 15
• Bruce Golden, WPCAMR, bruce@wpcamr.org  724-832-3625

Additional support for this project has been provided by:

• The Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds for providing the resources enabling the production, distribution, and collection of this survey.