The Freshwater Society’s (FWS) Master Water Stewards (MWS) program develops, certifies, and supports community volunteer leaders to manage stormwater at a neighborhood scale to improve water quality. After a successful pilot, the FWS is preparing to expand the MWS program to watershed districts and cities state-wide. As the program expands, the FWS needs to provide a means for Stewards to keep track of their work (e.g., hours, who they interact with, projects they develop) as well as the effects of their work on reducing stormwater runoff and improving water quality. The FWS would also like to document and deliver these results to participating governmental units in a way that adds value to their current system for stormwater reporting/permitting. Students in System Analysis and Design II will 1) use a user-centered design approach to capture requirements and create a prototype application for Stewards to track their work and projects, and 2) conduct interviews with staff and external groups to ensure the prototype is able to be integrated with existing stormwater calculators and other tools to track effects of projects on stormwater runoff. This tracking app will also contribute to FWS’ broader goal of providing evidence that education to the public about water quality improves water resources.
Project Overview Poster
Project Film
Partner Outcomes
FWS is now working with an app developer to complete the project.
Students’ work on the prototype saved FWS an estimated $15,000, and the project is now a year ahead of schedule.
Read the final student report delivered to the local gov/community partner.
Sustainable Communities Partnership Contact Info
University Faculty Contact
Amy Verhoeven
Biology
asverhoeven@stthomas.edu
6519625278
Local Government / Community Contact
Deirdre Coleman
Program Coordinator