American Heritage Rivers Initiative
Minutes of the Interagency Committee Meeting, March 13, 2003
Interagency Committee Principals (A), Deputies (B) and Working Group (WG) in attendance:
Council on Environmental Quality
James Connaughton, Chairman; Bill Leary, Associate Director; Bess Gillelan (NOAA, AHRI Task Force)
Fred W. Fox (DOI/OSM, AHRI Task Force)
Environmental Protection Agency
G. Tracy Mehan (A), James Cole (working group)
Department of Transportation
Joel Szabat (B), Angie Drumm (WG)
Department of the Interior
Chris Kearney (B)
Army Corps of Engineers
George Dunlop (B), Beverley Getzen (WG)
Department of Agriculture
Mark Rey (A), Mack Gray (B), Jack Frost (WG-NRCS), Karen Solari (WG-FS)
Department of Defense
John Paul Woodley – Army (B)
Department of Commerce - NOAA
Tim Keeney (A), Eldon Hout (B)
Department of Commerce - EDA
Sandy Baruah (alternate for David Bearden, B), Frank Monteferrante (WG)
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation
John Fowler (B), Ron Anzalone (WG)
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Dick Broun (B)
Department of Energy
Doug Faulkner (B)
National Endowment for the Humanities
Patti Van Tuyl (WG)
Federal Emergency Management Agency
Reynold Hoover (A)
General Services Administration
Doug Pulak (WG)
Invited Guests:
Richard Rassel, Chair, Metropolitan Affairs Coalition, and CEO & Chairman, Butzel Long, Detroit, MI
John Hartig, Detroit River Navigator
Others:
Jim Colby, Deputy Director for Regional Activities, Coastal America
Will Nuckols, Coastal America
Chairman Connaughton welcomed the committee and called the meeting to order at about 2:30 PM.
Preserve America: John Fowler, Executive Director of the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, gave an overview of a new White House initiative, Preserve America. The initiative was set up by Executive Order 13287 which directs Federal agencies to improve their management of historic properties and encourages economic development partnerships with local communities related to heritage and nature tourism. The goals of the initiative include: a greater shared knowledge about the Nation's past; strengthened regional identities and local pride; increased local participation in preserving the country's irreplaceable heritage, including both cultural and natural resources; and support for the economic health and well-being of our communities.
The Executive Order of March 3 directs Federal agencies to: 1) build partnerships with State and local governments, Indian tribes, and the private sector to promote economic development through the use of historic properties, 2) accurately assess and report the state and economic development potential of Federally owned historic properties, 3) improve Federal stewardship of historic properties, and 4) promote heritage tourism.
Preserve America is unfunded but draws on existing funded programs to achieve its purposes including Save America’s Treasures, Department of the Interior’s Cooperative Conservation Initiative, and Economic Development Administration community grants. Finally, the initiative includes plans to designate Preserve America Communities and to grant Preserve America Presidential Awards. There was a general consensus among the committee that the historic preservation and economic development elements of Preserve America fit well with the AHR initiative and that linkages should be explored.
Detroit American Heritage River Initiative presentation: Richard Rassel described the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition (MAC) as an established, private entity that links business, government, and labor. He recalled the leadership of the late Peter Stroh and said that MAC saw an opportunity when the Detroit River was named an American Heritage River. Mr. Rassel spoke favorably of the partnerships and opportunities that have been realized under AHR with John Hartig as River Navigator. Private investments of $0.5 M in the Detroit AHR Alliance have generated leveraged returns of $13.2 for riverfront projects. One noteworthy example was the contribution by U.S. Steel Corp. of Mud Island, which forms the core of a new international wildlife refuge. Mr. Rassel described Dr. Hartig’s role as the “glue” that holds together the partnership among the multiple government and non-government entities. He could foresee the day when the AHR concept would be firmly placed in the public’s consciousness to succeed without a full-time River Navigator but he felt that time was several years away and he urged the Administration’s continued support for the Detroit River Navigator for another five years.
John Hartig described the importance of the balanced AHR approach as a stool with three legs supporting economic development, natural resources protection, and cultural and historic preservation. He cited several examples of the successful application of this approach in greenways, river walks, soft engineering to protect shorelines, contaminated sediment treatment, and the preservation of Native American and other cultural icons. Dr. Hartig described the uniqueness and success of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, the first international refuge along the only dual-designated heritage river with recognition by both the U.S. and Canadian governments. In this 100th year of the U.S. Wildlife Refuge System, the Detroit refuge will be a focal point of the anniversary commemoration and another parcel is about to be added through the auspices of AHR, a USACE wetland mitigation project area. Dr. Hartig cited the involvement of the private sector including a $550M investment by GM in the revitalization of the Detroit Riverfront.
Certificates of Appreciation: Chairman Connaughton presented four certificates from the Executive Office of the President for their contributions to the American Heritage Rivers Initiative, and specifically the National AHRI Conference in Detroit in October, 2002. Mr. Rassel and Dr. Hartig received individual certificates, and they accepted certificates for the Metropolitan Affairs Coalition and Mark Breederland, Michigan Sea Grant, the AHR Community Partner. Chairman Connaughton had words of high praise for the successful conference in Detroit and for the hosts and organizers.
Agency support for River Navigators: As requested by Chairman Connaughton, those members whose organizations support River Navigator (RN) positions, came prepared to discuss their agency’s ability and interest in continuing RN support. The following status reports were given:
Mark Rey (USDA):
Hudson River: The initiative has been without its full-time NRCS Navigator since last fall and is in the process of recruiting a replacement. There is considerable Congressional and local interest in continuing navigator support.
Upper Susquehanna and Lackawanna River Watershed: This AHR has never utilized a federally employed Navigator. The community organization has the potential to become self-sustaining, but is still 2 –3 years from that point.
Hanalei: This river also does not have a River Navigator but rather an alternate model where two coordinators work for the community organization with grant assistance from USDA-FS. The group is still a couple of years away from being self-sustaining without government assistance. A non-profit is being set up this year.
Cuyahoga: The River Navigator departed several months ago and the Forest Service is developing a grant process to fund one or two local watershed coordinators. This process is expected to lead to the formation of a self-sustaining AHR community organization.
Mr. Rey indicated that none of the rivers they support are ready for graduation now. The USDA budget could accommodate future support to these rivers for as long as it takes for the communities to become self-sufficient.
George Dunlop (USACE)
New: The River Navigator’s role includes resolving interagency issues (“untying knots”) and working with communities along the designated AHR. The Corps’ headquarters had been funding the RN position at 100%, but funds now cover only about 50%. He would like to challenge their districts to do more.
Upper Mississippi: Mr. Dunlop reported the situation as being the same as the New RN.
Mr. Dunlop said that AHRI has been very effective, especially getting communities to take ownership of their rivers. It is encouraging community partners to take the extra step and work as part of a whole watershed. Many additional communities benefit from the example of this partnership vision.
Tracy Mehan (EPA)
EPA supports four RN positions. EPA’s Regional offices have been supporting these positions.
Connecticut: EPA and the RN have worked closely with other Federal agencies including NOAA and USFWS on river restoration projects. Four dams have been removed. A challenge is partnering among the four watershed states and many NGO’s.
St. Johns: The AHR coalition has tremendous local political support and is producing tangible results such as a trails coalition. Much remains to be done.
Blackstone-Woonasquatucket and Rio Grande: River Navigator support will be continued under the purview of the regional offices.
Chris Kearney (DOI)
Potomac: The situation has been affected by the Community Partner organization, Friends of the Potomac, which is experiencing “growing pains.” It was created in the process of seeking the AHRI designation, and is a young NGO. National Park Service has a Cooperative Agreement with Friends of the Potomac that extends beyond the scope of AHR for a 10-year term. The group can foresee the possibility of moving-on without a River Navigator, but it has requested continued RN support nonetheless. Continuing NPS sponsorship is uncertain and there may be a need for a different sponsoring agency.
Willamette: There is a strong inclination to continue RN support because the current situation seems to functioning smoothly. The fairly new RN has great creative energy to pursue partnerships with Coastal America and others. He fulfills an important role as an integrator of services to the river. The community partner has requested continued support.
Joel Szabat (DOT)
Detroit: Mr. Szabat acknowledged the strong community support for AHR and the River Navigator and said that DOT has agreed to continue RN support only until September 2004.
Lower Mississippi: Support for the Coast Guard officer serving as RN recently shifted to Dept. of Homeland Security but the arrangement will continue until July 2003. The overall effectiveness has suffered from the discontinuous service of RNs; the first RN left in 2001 and there was a 6-month gap before the replacement arrived. The AHR concept has been less successful in Memphis where local riverfront redevelopment has developed its own separate management organization since the original AHRI nomination. The New Orleans experience has been more successful with progress on projects like the historic Booker T. Washington High School brownfield project. Projects such as Woodlands Trail are problematic to DOT because project backers may perceive AHR status as a straight conduit for Federal aid rather than working through established State and local entities and processes. The RN has recently been an effective representative for coordinating efforts among Louisiana’s rural parishes, which don’t have the benefit of corporate support and involvement of urban communities.
Mr. Connaughton posed a question during the discussion concerning accountability of River Navigators and entities receiving grant funds in lieu of a RN. Committee members and staff responded favorably, saying they received regular feedback from the RNs and periodic reports from grantees, monthly and sometimes weekly. The members felt, however, that AHRI would benefit if each river community could define what else they want to accomplish in the remaining years of RN support, a kind of exit strategy.
Executive Session: Based on the discussion and recommendations of the Principals, the following determinations were made in Executive Session:
Outcomes
1. The Administration supports AHRI, including continuation of AHRI beyond July 2003.
2. The Administration agreed to the concept of one-time extensions of RN support not to exceed 3 years. The five-year RN terms expire in the end of FY04. Extensions are to be added on to FY04.
--an option under consideration: a fixed 3-year extension for all those not graduating rather than 1-year or year-to-year extensions to help navigators and communities better plan.
3. Preliminary decisions were made to extend four rivers by 3 years (Hudson, Detroit, St. Johns, and Willamette); three rivers by 1 year (Blackstone-Woonasquatucket, Connecticut, and Rio Grande); five rivers will be reviewed annually for RN support (Corps' New and Upper Mississippi RN) or grants (USDA's Upper Susquehanna-Lackawanna, Hanalei, and Cuyahoga); one river's extension request is still under discussion (Potomac); and one river needs a new sponsoring agency before extensions can be decided (Lower Mississippi).
USDA:
Hudson: 3-year extension (through the end of FY07)
US-LW: year-by-year grant decisions
Hanalei: " "
Cuyahoga: " "
USACE:
New: Continue current level of support, year-by-year (no extension
commitment, per se)
Upper Miss: " "
EPA:
Blackstone-Woonasquatucket: 1-year extension (through the end of FY05)
Connecticut: 1-year extension (through the end of FY05)
St. Johns: 3-year extension (through the end of FY07)
Rio Grande: 1-year extension (through the end of FY05)
DOI:
Potomac: Still collecting info/decision later
Willamette: 3-year extension (through the end of FY07)
DOT:
Detroit: 3-year extension (through the end of FY07)
Lower Miss: find another agency sponsor
4. An Ad Hoc group (Chris Kearney plus Working Group members) will draft "Measures of Success" and/or a process to work toward RN graduation, and report back in a 4-6 week timeframe. These could be used to re-evaluate extensions granted.
5. River Communities will be asked to redefine what they want accomplished before graduating to independence from RN support (exit strategies).
Next Step: The Interagency Committee will reconvene in June to review the Ad Hoc group’s proposed process for graduating RN’s and supporting communities’ exit strategies. The Committee will also discuss options for designating new rivers, AHRI budget needs, and opportunities to partner with other interagency initiatives.
The meeting adjourned at 4pm without discussion of several agenda items (budget, new river designations).
