Tom Cermak, Pennsylvania Sea Grant Coastal Outreach Specialist was recently honored with the 2023 Great Lakes Sea Grant Individual Mid-Career Achievement Award.

The Mid-Year award recognizes individual Sea Grant professionals (>7 years of service) who have shown noteworthy enthusiasm, performance, accomplishments and impact during their Sea Grant careers.

Specifically, the award criteria areas include excellence of performance, personal interaction, initiative and creativity, outstanding achievement, and impact.

Cermak began working for Pennsylvania Sea Grant in 2012 as a Coastal Outreach Specialist working in the Lake Erie watershed.

He brings unique perspective and leadership in development and implementation of projects that pertain to invasive species outreach and management, public access improvement, land conservation, water quality and quantity management, and social science.

His passion for these topics has led to improvements in local water quality, the health of aquatic ecosystems, and enhanced accessibility for all to access and enjoy the region’s resources.

“Tom exemplifies the Sea Grant adage of “connecting science with people,” and is a trusted expert and partner by everyone he works with,” said Sara Stahlman, Extension Leader for Pennsylvania Sea Grant. “He has a unique ability to connect and leverage partnerships, to build holistic programs that reflect the strength and integrity of each partner at the table.”

Cermak is also a skilled and successful grant writer, securing over $3.5 million since 2018 to support Pennsylvania Sea Grant and partner efforts.

The combination of these skills and desire to succeed has led to the completion of dozens of impactful and lasting projects that benefit not only current but future generations.

“Receiving this level of recognition by the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network is an honor for me personally,” said Cermak. “It is also a great opportunity to share the work Pennsylvania Sea Grant is doing in the region, and have those efforts recognized by colleagues and peers.”

Additional accomplishments and efforts include the establishment of the Lake Erie Watershed - Cooperative Weed Management Area (LEW-CWMA), which he coordinates.

Through the LEW-CWMA, Tom convenes organizations and individuals that are actively engaged or have an interest in invasive plant management within the watershed, and works with private property owners, local land trusts, and state agencies to conserve public open space for passive recreation and to provide public fishing access.

He also serves as the local coordinator for the Fish and Boat Commission – Erie Access Improvement Program, working with landowners to negotiate and secure perpetual public fishing access easements along the Lake Erie tributaries and shoreline.

This program also provides opportunities to plan and develop physical improvements such as fish cleaning stations, ADA accessible walkways and fishing platforms, boat ramps, habitat improvement, and efforts to increase migratory fish passage.

Tom is also skilled in the use of GIS and supports other staff, constructing maps and conducting other forms of analyses.

Tom earned his bachelor’s in environmental science from Thiel College, and his master’s degree in Community and Economic Development from Penn State University.

Click Here for the complete story.

Visit the Pennsylvania Sea Grant website to learn more about this program.

How Clean Is Your Stream?

The draft 2024 report has an interactive report viewer that allows you to zoom in to your own address to see if the streams near you are impaired and why.

Click Here to check out your streams.  Click Here for a tutorial on using the viewer.

Resource Link:

-- DEP 2024 Water Quality Report Shows 28,820 Miles Of Streams With Impaired Water Quality In PA (34%) - An Increase From 27,886 In 2022  [PaEN]

Related Articles - Watersheds:

-- PA Watershed Groups Engaged 8,000 Volunteers Contributing Over 44,500 Hours; 35,000+ People Involved In Projects, Education, Hikes, Other Events; Planted 30,000 Trees in 2022  [PaEN]

-- PA Sea Grant's Tom Cermak Recognized With Great Lakes Sea Grant Individual Achievement Award  [PaEN]

-- CBF's Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership: Last Year's Winners Of The Mira Lloyd Dock Diversity Award Work On Completing Environmental Projects  [PaEN]

-- NRCS-PA Offers Pennsylvania Producers $15 Million To Plant Cover Crops  [PaEN]

-- Western PA Conservancy Now Accepting Applications For BHE GT&S Watershed Mini Grants In Western PA  [PaEN]

-- National Sea Grant College Program Now Accepting Applications For 2 Marine Debris Prevention & Removal Funding Opportunities  [PaEN]

-- Susquehanna River Basin Commission Accepting Applications For Consumptive Use Mitigation Grants; Nov. 15 Webinar  [PaEN]

-- Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Watershed Renewal Project Accelerates Restoration Work In Halfmoon Creek, Centre County, Pequea Creek, Lancaster County  [PaEN]

-- DEP Chesapeake Bay Update Spotlights Local Restoration Efforts; Recent Conferences With Local Partners; Release Of Draft 2024 Integrated Water Quality Report

-- Quittapahilla Watershed Assn. Interns Present Stream Morphology Surveys On Lebanon County Streams   [PaEN]

-- Slippery Rock Watershed Coalition: Call For Submissions For Westminster College Student Symposium On The Environment Dec. 4 to 7  [PaEN]

-- Friends Of The Wissahickon Host Nov. 7 Climate Change In Our Watersheds Fall Valley Talk, In-Person, Online In Philadelphia  [PaEN]

-- Pike Conservation District: What Happens When Stormwater Management Goes Wrong? - By Chris Metzler, District Engineer  [PaEN]

-- Protecting Clean Water Together Series: Keeping The Gunk Out Of Your Water Supply - By Carol Hillestad for the Brodhead Watershed Association   [PaEN]

-- EQB Invites Comments On Proposed Site-Specific Mercury Standard Related To York County Landfill; Dec. 5 Virtual Hearing  [PaEN]

-- Forests For Chesapeake Bay: Fall Tree Plantings; Bat Stories; Ghosts Of Forest; Devil Tooth Fungus; Poisonous Plants

-- Help Wanted: Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership Executive Director  [PaEN]

[Posted: October 30, 2023]

11/6/2023