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NYSDEC), schools and universities, and non-governmental orga-
nization interests, primarily those of citizen advocacy groups and
municipal entities. Although the meeting explores policy, history,
and education, topics center on watershed science such that the
community understands hydrology and water quality, and the
depth of that science is one key aspect of stakeholder buy-in.
Stakeholder-driven watershed meetings are not a new idea
(e.g., Leach et al., 2002; Smutko et al., 2002), but we believe the
long-lasting interest and investment achieved through the MWS is
noteworthy as it finds its roots in evidence-based science. It is
difficult to draw direct comparisons with other watershed groups
and meetings because they are many and varied. Other meetings
are commonly organized as an education outreach connected to
school curriculum and thus miss some audiences (e.g., post-
secondary, government scientists, and policymakers). Meetings
run by watershed professional societies (e.g., water-resource engi-
neering) may be too specific and fail to engage citizen scientists.
The MWS encourages and facilitates equitable access to water-
shed research and provides a setting for expressing concerns. The
MWS example is important because the investment comes from
the full range of stakeholders, and involvement continues to grow.
In the seven years of successful meetings, the formula for the
symposium has not changed. The annual meeting includes invited
and volunteered oral presentations, and a single concurrent poster
session that is interwoven with vendors and displays from partici-
pating organizations (Fig. 1). The fact that it is annual is impor-
tant because stakeholders invest time, build relationships, and add
to their knowledge of basin issues.
Participants have diverse interests and expertise: they include
politicians, policymakers, local, state and federal government
employees and representatives, not-for-profit organizations,
researchers (from private, government, and academia sectors),
students (elementary, high school, undergraduate, and graduate
level) and the general public. Attendance continues to grow, with
at least 150 to 180 registered participants in the past three years.
One of the successes of the Watershed Symposium is the direct
access to information and the translation and transfer of this
knowledge to all stakeholders. Translation involves presenting
policy and scientific analysis so that the entire community under-
stands and is able to appreciate the significance. For many, MWS
Figure 1. Michelle Berube (presently a Kansas State University graduate
student) explaining her undergraduate thesis research work to Meghan Haley-
Quigley (Union College sustainability coordinator) at the 2015 Mohawk
Watershed Symposium. In addition to poster presentations, an important
aspect of the symposium is that people have time to talk, interact, and
understand the varied issues. Photo by M. Milless.
is the primary opportunity to connect with stakeholders in the
watershed, and as such, the meeting is integrated into annual
outreach programs. Accessibility is maintained with a proceed-
ings volume of extended abstracts produced at each MWS, avail-
able to attendees in hard copy and online (http://minerva.union.
edu/garverj/mws/2015/symposium.html).
Knowledge transfer includes mentoring and fostering interest in
the next generation of watershed scientists and their policy-
making counterparts. Increasing student participation and leader-
ship within the MWS is an important objective. Groups with
student-driven research include undergraduate and graduate
students primarily from local colleges and universities and several
other post-secondary institutions in the northeastern United
States. Students find that this forum is targeted directly to their
research efforts, so interaction can be particularly rewarding due
to the interest stakeholders have in their findings. We also
encourage participation by high school students and science
teachers, many of whom are already associated with the
Environmental Study Team from the Schoharie River Center.
From the beginning, the MWS was envisioned as an opportu-
nity to facilitate and foster conversations that drive positive
change and expand the understanding of physical processes
within the watershed. This success is demonstrated in the breadth
and depth of participation and the dynamic nature of the annual
meeting. Thus, we highlight the value of community engagement
to direct the future of scientific and policy directions in a water-
shed and hope that the MWS represents a useful illustration of
how all the time and effort has paid dividends. Although specific
to the Mohawk Watershed, the most important success of the
MWS is the least tangible because it has resulted in investment by
a wide range of individuals. The orphan of New York State water-
sheds, the annual symposium has given the Mohawk River an
identity, and it has given basin advocates a sense of importance
that results in ownership of the basin and its issues. As geoscien-
tists, we play a special role in shaping the dialog and in charting
the course, because we have a unique perspective that includes the
underpinning science and how that science relates to the public
discourse and policy decisions.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors are grateful for the feedback and suggestions from
an anonymous reviewer and science editor Jerry Dickens. As well,
participants and stakeholders from past Mohawk Watershed
Symposia are thanked for their enthusiasm and inspiration.
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Manuscript received 23 Sept. 2015; accepted 14 Dec. 2015. 
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