‘God’s Country Water Dog’ Training Scheduled for March 7

Concerned about the effects of Marcellus Shale drilling?

The first ever God’s Country Water Dog training session is slated for March 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Gunzberger building in Coudersport.

‘Water Dogs’ are volunteers from the community who wish to help monitor possible Marcellus Shale drilling violations or hazards.

The first of a a two-part training program, the class will show volunteers how to properly document and record possible environmental violations, as well as who to contact in the event of such.

The second portion of the training will focus on baseline water quality monitoring, an essential step in the process of properly documenting water quality conditions prior to any disturbance.

Julie Vastine, Director of Dickinson College’s Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring (ALLARM), will instruct the six-hour course.

The training is offered free of charge, but donations are welcome.