Some of the direct benefits to partners of the Institute will include the following:

For education partners, the Institute will provide a forum for reaching large, diverse numbers of people. Projects and programs will focus environmental expertise on river/watershed issues, and this information will disseminate to our broad target audience. Opportunities are to be provided for educators to achieve Act 48 compliance, and to acquire the necessary information to instruct students according to PA Department of Education Chapter 4 requirements. This forum will also provide the foundation for research initiatives operating at many functional levels, and can potentially develop into a national, and perhaps international, model for long-term environmental research of rivers.

For corporate partners, the Institute will project an image of environmental responsibility, and in the fullest meaning of watershed, defy traditional boundaries of influence by demonstrating proactivism in environmental matters rather than reactivism. This in turn can foster cooperative relationships with governmental and regulatory agencies. Corporations will also have access to a base of expertise on environmental matters relevant to the river/watershed and the environment in general. In addition, they will be able to address certain corporate imperatives relating to education, such as building partnerships with educators, providing opportunities for service learning, and reinforcing the importance of academic achievement. In doing this, the quality of life of the region is bolstered and the corporation's future is enhanced.

For community partners, the Institute will provide education in environmental stewardship that is based in sound science. The Institute has the potential to become a model for community and industry partnerships addressing a broad range of environmental issues. Through the Institute, community partners will gain an additional forum for interacting with local educators and industries.