Issue #6
Environmental Stewardship of Land and
Water Resources
Problem, Opportunity Statement
This POW addresses problems and Cooperative Extension
opportunities associated with water resources management, solid waste management,
and environmental policy.
The solid waste management component of this POW focuses on better utilization of current and future wastes while addressing the legacy of past improper disposal practices. There is increased interest and opportunities for Extension to explore alternative approaches to solid waste disposal due to increased environmental awareness, the desire to conserve natural resources, economic factors, and shrinking landfill space. Various Extension programs can assist homeowners, farmers, businesses and other stakeholders with proper solid waste management practices. Production can be addressed through programs that encourage utilization of household or producer organic wastes through composting. The legacy of past disposal practices have left dumps and degraded sites that can be addressed through clean up and remediation. To be successful such efforts must address technical, economic, and social aspects of the site itself and possible impacts on people in the surrounding area. Extension can also work with stakeholders of environmentally degraded sites to assess land damage and restore or rejuvenate them through dump cleanups and soil remediation. Agricultural producers also need to learn the principles of integrated solid waste management and pollution prevention.
Environmental policy education cuts across water, air and land use
problems in the state. Industrial farming provides a good example of this
linkage. Public concern regarding livestock production has intensified in
recent years including concerns about contamination of ground or surface water,
loss of property values, change in neighborhood aesthetics, or increased problems
with traffic and safety. Unfortunately, policy decisions are often made without
balanced knowledge and dialogue among stakeholders. The result can be negative
impacts on the environment or conflicts among stakeholder groups. Extension can
play a role in improving education, understanding, and dialogue among
stakeholders of environmental policy decisions. In some cases, dialogue or
experience with international clientele may also be helpful to develop or
improve natural resources Extension programs.
Subject Matter Areas
Program Titles and/or
Program Topics by Subject Matter Area
o
Agency resources and
partnerships (DEP, EPA, PROP, Coalitions)
o
Extension
staff
o
Curriculum development
materials
o
Fact sheets, brochures,
and publications
o
Slide sets and
PowerPoints
o
Displays and demonstration
props
o
NRCS resources (animal
composting)
o
Applied research
results
o
Soil blending
model
o
Web
sites
o
State grants from DEP and
PDA
o
Extension Faculty and
Staff
o
Program
Funding
o
Audience
Interest
o
Policy web
page
o Fact sheets, publications, displays
o
Fact sheets and
publications
o
Water Resources Extension
website (www.sfr.cas.psu.edu/water)
o
Trained Extension
educators
o
Water Resources Extension
Specialists
o
Partnerships with
environmental consultants and natural resources agencies
o
4-H Project
Books
o
Applied Research
Demonstration Sites
o
Federal and State
Grants
o
Models
o
Exhibits
o
EPA Aging Initiative
(future)
Indicators by Subject
Matter Area
o Number of participants implementing a recommended action or BMP related to water QUALITY.
o Number of participants implementing a recommended action or BMP related to water QUANTITY.
o Number
of participants demonstrating an increase in water knowledge.
·
Solid Waste Management
o Number of people utilizing by-product materials to improve soil quality.
o Number of organizations utilizing by-product materials to improve soil quality.
o Number of people adopting solid waste management practices that reduce pollution.
o Number of people beginning or improving their composting.
o Number of organizations beginning or improving their composting.
o Number of participants taking action to reduce, reuse or recycle.
o Number of participants demonstrating an increased knowledge of solid waste management.
o Number of participants changing their attitude toward or opinion about the need to consider diverse stakeholder views.
o Number of individuals participating in an environmental policy process.
o Number of individuals changing their attitude toward or opinion about the need for collaborative approaches.
o Number of initiatives that enhance communication and/or problem solving.
o Number
of participants demonstrating an increased knowledge of environmental policy.
o Number of international contacts or experiences.