Our Partners come in different sizes and cover different geographies.  The core stewards we strive to empower and learn from are watershed groups.  Self-selected water stewards are the experts for their stream or basin, and they tend to organize as watershed groups, or adopt a stream on their own initiative.  The H2O Water Network will work to strengthen the capacity of these water stewards across the entirety of the Upper Ohio River Basin.

The first step is to identify these water stewards and watershed groups.  We have developed the Watershed Directory and Map and will be working to make sure the information is correct, up-to-date, and representative of the work being done.

The H2O Water Network is surveying the capacity and water quality monitoring programs of watershed stewards in the Upper Ohio River Basin. The survey will include group characteristics, water quality methods and tools, the streams being actively monitored/managed, their GPS coordinates, and the reasons for their being monitored. Downstream Strategies has been retained to launch this intensive survey in 14 Southwest Pennsylvania Counties.  To learn more about the study, stay updated on progress, and to confirm whether your work is in one of these Counties visit the Project Page.