Web-Mapping Viewers to Enhance Environmental Education and Watershed Planning

Authors

• Austin L Holland, Center for Land Use Education at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point; University of Madison Division of Extension Natural Resources InstituteFollow
• John Strauser, Department of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences at University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Eric Olson, Extension Lakes at University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point; University of Madison Division of Extension Natural Resources Institute

Volume

64

Issue

2

Abstract

Extension professionals have been using web-based geographic information system (GIS) viewers to aid in education, outreach, and planning. This article highlights the Center for Land Use Education's new Watershed & Conservation Planning Web-Viewer, which was created in collaboration with Extension Lakes using publicly available GIS data. The tool has two objectives: to enhance public education on the relationship between land and water resources and to support the use of geospatial data in conservation planning. This article outlines the justification for the tool, its usefulness, and a path forward for those who can create their own version for their region or topical area.

Authors’ Contribution Statement

A. Holland created the web-viewer with feedback from E. Olson and J. Strauser. All authors met to discuss the initial idea for the manuscript. A. Holland wrote the initial draft of the Tools of Trade article. J. Strauser provided significant contributions to the second draft by adding sections that better situated our work within the relevant literature and application of the tool for extension and the public. E. Olson provided significant feedback about the application of the tool and editorial support of all drafts. All authors reviewed and approved the Tools of the Trade manuscript in all phases of the publication process.

Data Availability

No datasets were generated or analyzed during the current study.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Holland, A., Strauser, J., & Olson, E. (2026). Web-Mapping Viewers to Enhance Environmental Education and Watershed Planning. Journal of Extension, 64(2), Article 23. https://doi.org/10.66752/1077-5315.5757