Since the beginning of the Watershed Program, international students and projects have played an important role. Bob Dils had a strong interest in international students and contacts. Through international conferences and consultancies, Bob, Lee Miller, Freeman Smith, and Dave Striffler made foreign contacts in Argentina, Austria, Columbia, Costa Rica, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Taiwan, and Venezuela. These contacts helped to publicize the Watershed Program around the world. By 1973, official visitors from twenty different countries had visited the watershed program, and both degree and non-degree students from nearly as many had attended.

The international aspect of the program was enhanced with the arrival of Dr. Leo Teller from FAO, Rome. Leo was fluent in several languages and was a valuable addition to the program.

In the late 1970's Dave Striffler travelled to India to serve as a Ford Foundation consultant for research and demonstration watersheds in the Himalayas of northern India. After several visits, 10 -12 Indian scientists and students visited CSU to participate or attend classes. Dave also initiated the International School of Watershed Management later the International School of Forestry and Natural Resources. The School allowed foreign students on short term scholarships from FAO, USAID, or other sources to be admitted to regular courses within CSU. Freeman Smith continued as Director when Dave spent three years at the University of the Philippines at Los Banos.

Ted Sheng (MS, 1965) brought several years of international experience to the Watershed Program in 1984. While working for the FAO in Taiwan, Thailand, Jamaica, and Costa Rica, Ted had become an expert in steep land terrace systems. He developed a graduate seminar in International Watershed Management and stimulated many students to seek employment in international programs.