The Mid-Year award recognizes individual Sea Grant professionals (>7 years of service) who have shown noteworthy enthusiasm, performance, accomplishments and impact during their Sea Grant careers.
Specifically, the award criteria areas include excellence of performance, personal interaction, initiative and creativity, outstanding achievement, and impact.
Cermak began working for Pennsylvania Sea Grant in 2012 as a Coastal Outreach Specialist working in the Lake Erie watershed.
He brings unique perspective and leadership in development and implementation of projects that pertain to invasive species outreach and management, public access improvement, land conservation, water quality and quantity management, and social science.
His passion for these topics has led to improvements in local water quality, the health of aquatic ecosystems, and enhanced accessibility for all to access and enjoy the region’s resources.
“Tom exemplifies the Sea Grant adage of “connecting science with people,” and is a trusted expert and partner by everyone he works with,” said Sara Stahlman, Extension Leader for Pennsylvania Sea Grant. “He has a unique ability to connect and leverage partnerships, to build holistic programs that reflect the strength and integrity of each partner at the table.”
Cermak is also a skilled and successful grant writer, securing over $3.5 million since 2018 to support Pennsylvania Sea Grant and partner efforts.
The combination of these skills and desire to succeed has led to the completion of dozens of impactful and lasting projects that benefit not only current but future generations.
“Receiving this level of recognition by the Great Lakes Sea Grant Network is an honor for me personally,” said Cermak. “It is also a great opportunity to share the work Pennsylvania Sea Grant is doing in the region, and have those efforts recognized by colleagues and peers.”
Additional accomplishments and efforts include the establishment of the Lake Erie Watershed - Cooperative Weed Management Area (LEW-CWMA), which he coordinates.
Through the LEW-CWMA, Tom convenes organizations and individuals that are actively engaged or have an interest in invasive plant management within the watershed, and works with private property owners, local land trusts, and state agencies to conserve public open space for passive recreation and to provide public fishing access.
He also serves as the local coordinator for the Fish and Boat Commission – Erie Access Improvement Program, working with landowners to negotiate and secure perpetual public fishing access easements along the Lake Erie tributaries and shoreline.
This program also provides opportunities to plan and develop physical improvements such as fish cleaning stations, ADA accessible walkways and fishing platforms, boat ramps, habitat improvement, and efforts to increase migratory fish passage.
Tom is also skilled in the use of GIS and supports other staff, constructing maps and conducting other forms of analyses.
Tom earned his bachelor’s in environmental science from Thiel College, and his master’s degree in Community and Economic Development from Penn State University.
Click Here for the complete story.
Visit the Pennsylvania Sea Grant website to learn more about this program.
How Clean Is Your Stream?
The draft 2024 report has an interactive report viewer that allows you to zoom in to your own address to see if the streams near you are impaired and why.
Click Here to check out your streams. Click Here for a tutorial on using the viewer.
Related Article:
-- DEP 2024 Water Quality Report Shows 28,820 Miles Of Streams With Impaired Water Quality In PA (34%) - An Increase From 27,886 In 2022 [PaEN]
[Posted: October 30, 2023] PA Environment Digest
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