One of NEIWPCC’s key critical objectives centers on workforce development, with the goal of delivering programs and services that attract and retain a diverse, talented group of water quality professionals, both internally and within the broader water resource field. In the spring issue of Interstate Waters, NEIWPCC Information Officer Cheyenne Ellis provides an overview of the EPA-sponsored Youth and the Environment Program, which introduces young people to careers in the wastewater industry through paid summer internships.
Another piece addresses the use of sodium chloride to de-ice slippery winter roads, which has enabled drivers to safely navigate to their destinations for many decades. However, road salt application has increased exponentially since the practice originated in the 1940s, and often ends up in surface and groundwater through stormwater runoff. NEIWPCC Information Officer Beth MacBlane examines the resulting environmental concerns, and efforts to transition to a much lower, yet still effective, quantity of salt. In particular, the article focuses on New Hamphire’s voluntary commercial salt reduction program, which has a multi-pronged and innovative approach, prioritizing public safety while reducing salt usage.
Each summer, educators, teachers, and science professionals convene at the Norrie Point Environmental Education Center, located along the Hudson River in New York, to participate in a Teachers on the Estuary (TOTE) workshop. This research and field-based training program, one of many across the 30 National Estuarine Research Reserves, gives participants an opportunity to learn from experts in the field and acquire tools and resources to engage students. In this article, Rebecca Hauser, NEIWPCC environmental analyst and Hudson River Estuary Program education associate, highlights TOTE’s multidisciplinary activities and provides an overview of participants’ experiences.
Interstate Waters is published twice a year and is available in both digital and print formats. NEIWPCC welcomes and appreciates questions, comments, and story ideas for publication. To receive a printed copy of Interstate Waters, or to send feedback, email the Communications Division at communications@neiwpcc.org. Type “Subscribe to Interstate Waters” in the subject field and include your full mailing address. Please indicate whether you also wish to be added to NEIWPCC’s monthly e-newsletter, Streamlined.