The Ohio State University coordinates the Watershed Management
Theme for the Great Lakes Regional Water Program.

Featured Initiatives

Measuring Social Outcomes of Nonpoint Source Management Programs
USEPA Region 5, state water quality agencies, university researchers and educators, and local water managers have produced pilot methods and guidance for measuring social information and outcomes from nonpoint source (NPS) programs in the Great Lakes Region. Read more....

Behind the Scenes: Watershed Management Theme Team
Helps Professionals Keep Current
The Watershed Management Theme Team devotes many hours to staying up-to-date on the best information and approaches available to water resource professionals. Read about the Team's activities.

Extraordinary People Creating Extraordinary Communities: A Profile of Land Use Decision Makers
On March 7, 2007 Ohio State University Extension, Purdue University, and the University of Minnesota hosted a video conference to showcase stories of individuals and organizations making a difference in their communities through land use and watershed management people, programs, and practices.  The goal of the video conference was to promote regional cooperation among watershed professionals in the Great Lakes states, document success stories, and encourage new approaches that effectively link land use and watershed management. Read more about our Extraordinary People (1.9 Mb pdf)...

Video Conference Highlights
Three featured "extraordinary people" from each state presented their stories at thhis conference. Participants from each state then asked questions of the story tellers and shared their own stories. Following the conference local groups further discussed effectively linking land use and watershed management.
The conference was held at 10 locations or sites in three states with a total of 19 participants. Read more...

Governor's Conference on the Illinois River
The Governor’s Conference on the Illinois River is an ongoing project of the water quality program of University of Illinois Extension (UIE). Since the inaugural biennial conference was held in 1987, attendance has grown from 150 to over 350 participants representing diverse backgrounds, agencies, organizations and communities. Read more about the Conference and other Illinois programs in Watershed Management.

Connecting People and Watersheds via the World Wide Web
Purdue Extension has created a GIS-based website to elevate awareness and visibility of watershed organizations across Indiana, connect citizens who are interested in learning more about their watersheds. Read more about this and other Indiana programs in Watershed Management.

Lake and Stream Leadership Training
This Michigan program offered workshops statewide focused on teaching diverse audiences about lakes, watersheds and stormwater management. Read more about this and other state progams in Watershed Management.

Volunteer Stream Monitoring Partnership
Coordinated through the University of Minnesota Water Resources Center, the Volunteer Stream Monitoring Partnership (VSMP) is a collaboration between citizens, local government units, educators, state and regional agencies, nonprofits, and the private sector. Read more about the Partnership..Livestock and Streams Fact Sheets
Livestock access to streams is a significant problem on much of Ohio’s pasture lands. A new series of five fact sheets has been developed to address the impacts of livestock on riparian area. Access the fact sheets and read about Ohio programs in Watershed Management.

The Wisconsin Basin Education Initiative
The Basin Education Program continues to work with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the Natural Resources Conservation Service to provide statewide watershed-based natural resources education. Read about the Basin Initiative here or on the Basin Education Initiative website.