On a local level, residents are sometimes looking for ways to help improve and protect their watersheds. However, it’s important to not only recruit volunteers, but to share information with them on key issues in nearby waterways. These well-informed stewards can take leadership roles in their communities on a variety of projects, including beach and stream cleanups, ecosystem restoration, and natural resource education.

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant’s Illinois-Indiana Master Watershed Steward Program (MWSP) provides an opportunity to educate residents interested in natural resource issues and to grow a cadre of volunteers. In 2025, IISG trained and certified 21 new watershed stewards, developing a cadre of knowledgeable volunteers and introducing them to local organizations to foster volunteering connections. Fifteen stewards were trained in McLean County, Illinois, and six in Lake and Porter counties, Indiana. In post-workshop surveys, most participants shared that the program strengthened their commitment to taking action to improve water quality, or they described clear plans to use their new skills.

In 2025, five new Indiana stewards each engaged in 35 volunteer hours, completing their stewardship requirements. Six continuing stewards volunteered 144 hours altogether. These contributions support watershed education, conservation projects, and community outreach, helping to strengthen local capacity for protecting and managing water resources. The total volunteer contribution in 2025 was 319 hours—based on the estimated value of volunteer time in the state ($31.05/hour), they contributed over $9,900 to the northwest Indiana economy.