Author: Scott Ensign

Searching for a watershed organization near you? This online mapping tool can help you find a community watershed organization, watershed alliance, or regional partner. These organizations can help you understand watershed issues and help empower you to take action. This tool was built by the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers. Check out their other tools and resources for getting involved in advocating for your local or regional watersheds and rivers.

Water Reporter is an app that connects people and organizations working to protect watersheds. The social network of users collect and share water observations and watershed information in an effort to build monitoring campaigns and actions. You can sign up on their website for a free account and download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

The Water Data Collaborative was created by a partnership of water-focused environmental organizations to “organize community water science resources, and practitioners, as well as create new and helpful tools to guide users through the entire process of water monitoring, from study design guidance, to data management, analysis and communication.” The Water Data Collaborative and their partner organizations have created many useful tools for watershed management. The following are just a few examples; visit their website for more. The Clean Water Hub, a portal for contributing and viewing water monitoring data. The Wiki Resource Library a place to find, access, and contribute water science resources. The Service Provider Directory, to connect you to community water scientists for technical support.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides an online tool for exploring watersheds called How’s My Waterway? How’s My Waterway incorporates and expands upon content from the EPA’s Surf Your Watershed tool which was decommissioned after providing watershed information for more than 20 years. It’s easy to get started exploring your own local watershed by typing your address in the search bar at the top, or use the three tabs underneath that into community, state, or national-scale data. The tool summarizes watershed and water quality information by four topics: condition of waters for swimming, eating fish, aquatic life, and drinking water. Interactive maps can help you learn which waterways in your local watershed are impaired and where water monitoring is being done. There is a lot to explore in this tool for students, practitioners, and professionals, alike!