The Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers will hold workshops to introduce the PA Watersheds Data System to watershed groups across the state in the coming months.

The first workshop will be held October 29 at Boyce Park in Allegheny County following a Passing Go workshop in the morning. The workshop will last from 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. at the Ski Lodge.

The PA Watersheds Data System is a project that POWR started last November with the help of the Keystone Watershed Monitoring Network Database Subcommittee.

The data system serves several functions, including providing groups who do not currently store their own data the ability to do so, and allowing groups to analyze their data in order to move forward and take action with the data. Also, because the data system is online, groups can have access to their data at all times. Groups will still maintain control over who views their data, however, through security functions built into the data system.

POWR has spent the last few months performing beta-testing on the system. This beta-testing consisted of working with 21 watershed groups and service providers from across the state to learn what needed fixed within the system and to gather ideas for future upgrades to the data system.

POWR’s Program Coordinator Angie King will be on hand to walk users through the data system, demonstrating how to enter monitoring data, extract data, and analyze data with graphs and maps.

Any volunteer monitor, educator or service provider who is interested in learning more about data management is encouraged to attend the presentation.

For more information contact King at amccracken@pawatersheds.org or call 717-234-7910 by October 27 if you plan to attend.

10/14/2005