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GEM Healthy Watersheds Project Summary
View a publication highlighting five years of the GEM International Seminar on Watershed Management(PDF opens in new window)
The GEM Healthy Watersheds Program was launched in 2001 via a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). GEM is partnering with the USDA Forest Service International Programs office to host an annual International Seminar Series on Watershed Management.
A key component of this program is the annual GEM International Seminar on Watershed Management. (Click here for the 2007 seminar brochure and application; aquí informes en espanol) Since 2002 nearly 90 mid- and senior-level watershed managers from 37 countries have participated in this field-based learning experience. Participants travel throughout the state of Wisconsin and see first-hand many applications of sustainable watershed practices.
In addition, via a grant from the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service, GEM sponsored and coordinated a GEM International Conference on Planning for Land Use and Healthy Watersheds. This conference was held at the Johnson Foundation's Wingspread Conference Center in Racine, Wisconsin.
GEM Project Scope
Establish local and international collaborative education, research and outreach efforts among participating public and private institutions to safeguard surface and groundwater resources.
Improve citizen, business, and industry awareness and knowledge of their possible positive roles and impacts related to watershed management and access to training opportunities.
Develop local community-based capacity for understanding the present condition of the watershed in which people live, steps that may be needed to improve that condition, and plans for long-term watershed monitoring and management.
Create and implement model watershed pilot projects that improve water quality, restore aquatic habitats and reduce pollutant export; establish mechanisms to replicate projects.
Encourage land use planning compatible with the functions of a healthy watershed.
GEM Project Goals
To develop watershed educational curricula using select pairs of "showcase" watersheds in Wisconsin and overseas with criteria developed with U.S. EPA and foreign collaborators.
To develop and test human capacity building models for cooperative watershed studies and education locally and abroad.
To host an international conference on watershed education and present the capacity building model for peer evaluation and application elsewhere.
To foster vital and continuing information exchange among students, working professionals and community-based groups involved in watershed management locally and internationally.
To build broad, collaborative partnerships with diverse groups, institutions and agencies, who can bring resources to effect watershed improvement, to demonstrate coordinated planning and management to restore and maintain healthy watersheds.
GEM Anticipated Outcomes, Products, or Benefits
A human capacity building model, focused on local communities, will be developed and tested to address training and outreach educational strategies for safeguarding the quality and quantity of ground and surface water resources.
A plan for an integrated watersheds curriculum for K-12 school children will be developed to meet future educational needs and application of developing technologies.
An integrated team of experts will be formed within College of Natural Resources and collaborating partners that can rapidly assess the educational needs of a watershed community and recommend educational tools.
Scientific knowledge through long-term monitoring and modeling will enable local residents to make informed watershed management decisions including assessments of hydrology, water quality, toxins, habitat and fisheries, bio-monitoring and modeling tools in concert with social and cultural values.
