Watershed Watch in Kentucky
Explore. Connect. Protect.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
The improvement and protection of Kentucky's water resources.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Introductory Sampling Program
Volunteer samplers are trained to measure water chemistry at their chosen stream site(s) and collect water samples for laboratory analysis, primarily for bacteria levels. Three annual sampling events are coordinated each year--in May, July, and September. The results from these sampling events are summarized and reported back to volunteers for their individual use. The results are also discussed during annual conferences in each of Kentucky's major river basins and technical guidance is provided by river basin steering committees.
Although Watershed Watch programs are generally geared toward adults, younger samplers can participate with adult partners or through the 4-H Stream Team Program.
Habitat and Biological Assessments
Training is also available to help samplers better understand stream conditions through biological and habitat assessments. Biological assessments are conducted by collecting and identifying aquatic macroinvertebrates. The types of macroinvertebrates present in a stream can serve as indicators of overall stream health, as some can tolerate greater levels of pollutants and others are more sensitive. Habitat assessments are made by observing and rating various conditions within and beside the stream. Structural qualities, such as streambank vegetation, bank erosion, and stream curvature, influence the waterway's stability and ecosystem health.
Although Watershed Watch programs are generally geared toward adults, younger samplers can participate with adult partners or through the 4-H Stream Team Program.
Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program
Volunteers utilize Secchi Disks to measure the clarity of lake water, while also making observations of the general lake appearance and weather conditions. Although the program is geared toward understanding general lake health, special emphasis is placed on detecting Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and protecting drinking water sources.
Although Watershed Watch programs are generally geared toward adults, younger samplers can participate with adult partners or through the 4-H Stream Team Program.
4H Stream Team Program
The 4-H Stream Team Program is designed to train youth as citizen scientists to conduct scientific investigations about streams across the Commonwealth, determining if these waters are healthy. The culmination of this year-long project is a local water improvement project. This program is a collaboration between Watershed Watch in Kentucky, Kentucky Division of Water, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute, Jackson Purchase Foundation, Inc., and the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment departments of 4-H Youth Development and Entomology.
Where we work
External reviews
Photos
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Goal Areas:
1. Outreach: Increase visibility, networking opportunities, and partnerships at both the state and local level through internal and external communications.
2. Organizational Operations: Improve effectiveness through current and accessible organizational documents and clear guidance on Watershed Watch procedures.
3. Community Education and Action: Inspire and support community education and action that applies water monitoring results to protecting and improving water quality.
4. Finance: Improve WWKY's Financial Health to fund Basin-level activities and overall organizational sustainability.
5. Basin Support: Provide technical, organizational, and other support to the affiliated Basin organizations.
6. Science Advisory: Provide scientifically-based guidance for water quality data collection, analysis, interpretation, and management.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Outreach: Develop a shared message and communications plan for WWKY. Increase engagement of volunteers through regular communications and networking/recreational opportunities. Expand WWKY's network of volunteers to increase our reach and impact statewide. Engage and formalize new and existing partnerships to integrate our work more fully in statewide water quality management.
Organizational Operations: Pursue hiring of executive director. Enhance internal communications within the WWKY Board and between the Board and Basin groups. Increase and reinvigorate Board engagement.
Community Education and Action: Improve overall WWKY sampler participation experience. Develop resources to facilitate improved understanding of data, potential causes and sources or poor results, and a listing of proposed water quality improvement actions. Encourage and support community-focused projects that apply volunteer knowledge to water quality improvements.
Finance: Pursue
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
A committed and enthusiastic volunteer board.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
WWKY has hired a part0time development officer, completed a strategic plan, and launched new fundraising initiatives.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Watershed Watch in Kentucky
Board of directorsas of 08/02/2022
Malissa McAlister
University of Kentucky
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data
Equity strategies
Last updated: 07/29/2022GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.