UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — After three “unretirements,” Gary Grahl was looking for his next challenge when he trained — at 70 years old — to become a volunteer in the Penn State Extension Master Watershed Steward program.

In 2019, the Master Watershed Steward program was relatively new to Grahl’s home county of Berks. He said the program caught his attention because of his long-standing interest in nature and environmental conservation.

“As a Master Watershed Steward, I’ve met many other volunteers who appreciate the world around us and are willing to make the effort to learn about, and teach about, our wonderful world of water,” Grahl said. “Applying the knowledge and experience I’ve gained to the benefit of the community and the planet is heartwarming.”

Matt Neumaier, Master Watershed Steward coordinator for Penn State Extension in Berks and Schuylkill counties, said, “There are a wide variety of ways Master Watershed Stewards like Gary contribute at the local level, from hands-on projects to education and outreach. Having volunteers who are trained in science-based best management practices means the public can trust the work that they do.”

Over the years, Grahl has enjoyed participating in many activities as a volunteer. He engages with the public annually at the Master Watershed Steward exhibit at the Pennsylvania Farm Show. He also has created displays for Love Our Lake events and led youth-oriented activities involving macroinvertebrates. Love Our Lake is hosted by the Pennsylvania Lake Management Society to celebrate lakes in the commonwealth.

“I really like working with school groups,” he said. “We take the students to streams to catch and identify the creatures that live there and explain the different creatures’ place in the life of the streams.”

In Berks County, the stewards engage in citizen-science initiatives, environmental restoration projects and educational programs.

The volunteers conduct monthly water testing and analysis at a variety of sites, including Nolde Forest State Park. Water quality testing involves monitoring the alkalinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, pH and water transparency at sites, as well as sampling the macroinvertebrate, or water bug, population. The group has begun planting riparian buffers, areas adjacent to a body of water with native trees and shrubs. These buffers are beneficial for filtering runoff, decreasing erosion and reducing stormwater effects.

Through his work as a watershed steward, Grahl also obtained additional training to become part of Extension’s Master Well Owner Network in 2022. Similar to the watershed program, the Master Well Owner Network is a statewide initiative that trains volunteers to educate rural homeowners on the management of private water wells.

According to Penn State Extension, some 3 million Pennsylvanians rely on more than 1 million private water wells that serve farms and rural homes in the state. Owners are responsible for ensuring the water quality of their systems, but many lack the knowledge to manage these supplies properly. Research has shown that more than half of private water systems in the commonwealth fail to meet one or more drinking water standards.

“I’m a resident of a private well neighborhood,” Grahl added. “The Master Well Owner Network training enabled and inspired me to get several of my neighbors to take an active interest in the health of their families and their wells. It’s not easy to get people to pay attention to something that’s in the background noise of life. The program helps us volunteers to cut through the noise.”

Neumaier describes Grahl as knowledgeable and committed.

“Gary’s insightful at informational events, helps monitor a local water quality data logger, participates in water quality testing, and has undergone additional training to become a member of the Master Well Owner Network,” he said. “He’s a pleasure to work with and a valuable asset to the program.”

To anyone considering joining a local Master Watershed Steward program, Grahl said, “Come on in, the water’s great!”

The Penn State Master Watershed Steward program provides extensive training in watershed management to volunteers who, in return, educate the community about watershed stewardship based on university research and recommendations. The program was established to strengthen local capacity for management and protection of watersheds, streams and rivers by educating and empowering volunteers across the commonwealth.

Anyone interested in becoming a Master Watershed Steward can learn more at the program’s website.