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Master Watershed Steward Sue Nielsen Emphasizes Conservation In Her Volunteer Work In Warren County

By Kelly Jedrzejewski, Penn State News

As a self-described outdoor person, Master Watershed Steward volunteer Sue Nielsen not only understands the importance of protecting natural resources for future generations but also sees that everyone has an active role to play in conservation.

“I feel it’s my responsibility as part of the community to be a part of the solution,” Nielsen said. “If you’re apathetic to what’s going on around you and do nothing, you’re not a part of the solution, even if you think you’re not causing a negative environmental impact. One person can make a difference, usually because it starts a ripple effect.”

According to Amber Stilwell, Master Watershed Steward coordinator for Penn State Extension in Erie, Crawford and Warren counties, the Master Watershed Steward program creates a community of trained and confident volunteers who are ready to implement and design projects, as well as educate their communities.

“Our volunteers serve on advisory councils and watershed associations and work directly with partners to create and maintain healthy watersheds,” Stilwell added. “They’re beacons of stewardship.”

Nielsen, who recently retired from a 23-year career in early childhood education, was an active member of the Conewango Creek Watershed Association before becoming a Master Watershed Steward.

“Taking the Master Watershed Steward course felt like a natural extension of what we’re trying to do at the watershed association,” she said. “Having more education and a thorough understanding of the factors that can impact watersheds lends validity to our educational programs and outreach efforts.”

Earlier this summer, Nielsen and other Master Watershed Stewards organized a successful Tap Talk at Brokenstraw Valley Winery in Youngsville.

The talk, delivered by a species recovery biologist from the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, focused on endangered native mussels. During the interactive event, attendees saw native specimens on display and even held live mussels.

“Sue saw the potential for the Tap Talk, as she does in every opportunity, and executed the event with impeccable grace,” Stilwell said. “She’s a joyful and hardworking person. Her commitment to watershed protection is palpable and contagiously beneficial.”

Over the last few years, Nielsen and the stewards in Warren County have led waterway cleanups and helped monitor water quality.

They also have hosted extensive educational workshops on native and invasive plants and assisted with invasive plant pulls. The group said they are looking forward to doing more programs highlighting the importance of pollinators.

“What attracted me to this program was the chance to learn about so many topics like macroinvertebrates and their life cycles, lake and pond ecology, stormwater management, green infrastructure, and stream bank restoration,” Nielsen said.

Through the Conewango Creek Watershed Association, Nielsen and the other volunteers are planning to expand their water quality monitoring program and offer more water quality testing workshops for landowners to test their well water.

They also are working toward purchasing game cameras to monitor locations where illegal dumping has been an ongoing problem along waterways.

As an incentive to residents of Warren County who are interested in becoming Master Watershed Stewards, the watershed association has created a scholarship to help offset the cost of training.

Additionally, Nielsen recently was hired as the executive director of the Penn Soil Resource Conservation and Development Council, a 501c3 nonprofit providing local leadership to develop and implement a plan that will improve the economic, environmental and social well-being of the people in an eight-county region through accelerated planning and development of natural resources.

“Having the background of being a Master Watershed Steward will tie into projects we already have underway or in the planning stages at the council to promote the protection and responsible management of the land and water resources,” she said.

Nielsen noted that she has learned a great deal from her experiences as a volunteer. “The other Master Watershed Stewards have been a great asset,” she said. “Everyone has areas of expertise, so you can go to the collective group for help and get real-world strategies.”

Along with her work as a Master Watershed Steward, Nielsen is a kayak and water safety instructor, a swimming instructor, and a Special Olympics coach, which includes being certified to teach swimming to people with special needs.

“The nice part about the Master Watershed Steward program is that you can pick which topics interest you and focus on outreach and events related to those topics,” she said. “It’s an initial commitment of time to complete the training, but it’s very worthwhile and the rewards are immeasurable.”

The Penn State Master Watershed Steward program provides extensive training in watershed management to volunteers who, in return, educate the community about watershed stewardship based on university research and recommendations.

The program was established to strengthen local capacity for management and protection of watersheds, streams and rivers by educating and empowering volunteers across the Commonwealth.

Anyone interested in becoming a Master Watershed Steward can learn more at the program’s website.

(Reprinted from Penn State News.)

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