Four Mile Run Workshop Agenda Straw Proposal

Four Mile Run Workshop Agenda

Straw Proposal

Revised LD 10/23/00

Goal: Create a widespread, united effort to conserve, protect, restore, regenerate, and enjoy the natural, cultural and economic values of the Four Mile Run watershed in Virginia 

Objectives:

• Expand and coordinate efforts with the Four Mile Run community, including Non-government organizations, businesses, individuals and non-traditional communities.
• Provide format for presenting the effects of urbanization, mandates, and personal influences on Four Mile Run
• Unite jurisdictional efforts by facilitating input and identifying priorities for the watershed (City of Alexandria, City of Falls Church, Arlington County, Fairfax County)

Date:  Saturday, April 28, 2001

Location:  

• Day 1--???? Arlington or Fairfax, community center
• Day 2—Alexandria, Birchmere Music Hall on Mt Vernon Avenue

            

Target Audience: 

Residents, local elected and appointed officials, merchants, landowners, recreation users, Commonwealth and Federal government representatives, educators, civic and private organization leaders, etc.

Day 1--Evening (6:00--9:00 p.m.)

Opening Session

Welcome by Local Elected Officials and Workshop Organizers

• Keynote "Anchor" Speaker.  
• Dave's Film
• Brief overview Workshop format
• Presentations describing regulatory framework, water quality issues, current and planned monitoring and restoration projects, recreation and access in the watershed

Day 2--Morning to After Lunch (9:00 a.m.--1:00 p.m.)

*  Keynote "Anchor" Speaker

Session I   Four Mile Run Assets/ Values & Issues

Participants go to breakout groups and identify the most

important assets/ values and problems, issues or matters of public concern related to Four-Mile Run

Session II   Four Mile Run Actions

Participants go to breakout groups to discuss ways to solve problems and save or restore assets (i.e. monitoring, outreach/ education, public access, recreation areas and linkages, etc.).  Each group develops priorities

Lunch

Summary of Values, Issues and Actions & Next Steps

Include the announcement of one or more grants or designations (i.e. VA Adopt a Stream; Conservation Foundation Greenway Grant, etc.)

Session III   Four Mile Run Experience

• Walking/ bike/ boating Route.   Participants take an experiential route to learn more about Four Mile Run.  The route includes stations (booths, exhibits, hands-on activities) with local people and/ or interpreters to provide participants with information.  Demonstrate assets, local plans and projects, history and ways to get involved.  
• Possible Activities include: 

water quality testing (chemical and biotic sampling)

wetland planting

tree-planting

boat safety

fishing

clean-up

native planting 

VA Water Wizard Van 

• Translators needed at every stop
• Bike map that tells story of Four Mile Run

DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED CONFERENCE: REMARKS BY J. GLENN EUGSTER

DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED CONFERENCE

REMARKS BY J. GLENN EUGSTER, RIVER NAVIGATOR, POTOMAC AHR

“I COUNT IT ONE OF THE LUCKIEST THINGS IN LIFE TO HAVE BEEN BORN WITHIN REACH OF A RIVER VALLEY; NOT IN IT, NOR ABOVE IT, BUT JUST SO FAR REMOVED FROM IT THAT IT NEVER BECAME TOO FAMILIAR A SIGHT AND NEVER QUITE CEASED TO BE A WONDER”.

“DOWN BY THE RIVER” BY H.E. BATES

FROM MY FIRST VISIT TO THE DELAWARE WATERSHED I WAS STURCK BY THE MARVELOUS DIVISERITY OF THIS PLACE.  FROM THE URBAN WATERFRONTS OF WILMINGTON, PHILADELPHIA, CAMDEN AND TRENTON TO THE WILDLANDS OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY AND SOUTHERN NJ. IS A CONTINUUM OF VALUES AND LAND USES---WATERSHED PLACES WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WORK AND RECREATE. 

FROM MY WORK IN THE WATERSHED I HAVE BEEN STRUCK BY THE  DELAWARE RIVERWORK WHICH HAS BEEN DONE HERE.  THE DELAWARE IS TRULY A VALLEY OF INNOVATION IN WATERSHED PROTECTION, RESTORATION, REVITALIZATION AND RECREATION.

REFLECTIONS ON INNOVATIONS 

--CAME TO THE Delaware River WATERSHED/ PHILADELPHIA IN 1975 AND WAS INTRODUCED TO RIVER’S VALUES AND THIS INNOVATIVE WORK THROUGH:

--IAN MCHARG’S WORK IN THE BASIN AND HIS ECOLOGICAL PLANNING METHOD

--A FOREST SERVICE STUDY OF POSTING AND THE PUBLIC USE OF PRIVATE LANDS IN THE WATER GAP AREA

--THE WORK OF ALSTON JENKINS & ANDY JOHNSON AND THE NATURAL LANDS TRUST IN TINIMCUM MARSH AND FORTESCUE GLADES

--LEARNED OF THE BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF WATER POLLUTION WORK OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE; NEW YORK’S WORK WITH THE DELAWARE RIVER BASIN COMMISSION ON WATER SUPPLY AND THE PROTECTION OF MINIMUM FLOWS FOR LIVING RESOURCES AND; NEW JERSEY’S EFFORTS AT COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT AND GROUNDWATER PROTECTION

FOR NEARLY 15 YEARS THE DELAWARE WATERSHED REVEALED DIVERSE TRADITIONS OF INNOVATIVE THOUGHT AND DEEDS.  FOR THOSE OF YOU WITH A HISTORY HERE THIS ISN’T SURPRISING. THE DELAWARE RIVER WATERESHED’S:  

--FORESTS HELPED TO SHAPE WILLIAM PENN’S VISION FOR PENNSYLVANIA. 

--IT’S NATURAL AREAS MADE PHILADELPHIA A GATEWAY FOR MANY OF THE MOST FAMOUS NATURE WRITERS & WOMEN IN THE FIELD, SUCH AS WILLIAM BARTRAM, JOHN JAMES AUDUBON, WALT WHITMAN, GRACEANNA LEWIS AND MARY TREAT.

--IT’S PORT ACTIVITY DREW FAVORABLE COMPARISONS TO THE CLYDE RIVER IN SCOTLAND.

--THE VALLEY’S URBAN AREAS, OR “GRITTY CITIES”, REFLECT A RICH INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE WHICH WAS IMPORTANT TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATION.

--THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPES OF THE DELAWARE, SUCH AS THE BRNADYWINE, FRENCH AND PICKERING CREEK REGION AND VALLEY FORGE REFLECT TRADITIONS OF LAND STEWARDSHIP WHICH ARE REKNOWN NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.

--IT’S WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY HAS BEEN COVETED BY ALL THE BASIN STATES AND WAS THE BASIS FOR SUPREME COURT JUSTICE OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES 1931 STATEMENT—“A RIVER IS MORE THAN AN AMENTIY; IT IS A TREASURE”. 

--HUNTING, FISHING AND OUTDOOR RECREATION (INSERT)

MY EARLY EXPOSURE WAS SHAPED AS WE DEVELOPED THE NPS’S RIVERS, TRAILS & CONSERVATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM WHICH WE USED TO SHAPE FEDERAL RIVER CONSERVATION EFFORTS TO BE MORE SUPPORTIVE AND SENSITIVE TO HOME RULE, PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS, STATE AND COMMONWEALTH LEADERSHIP.  IT WAS HERE IN THE VALLEY, WORKING ON BRISTOL, THE MAURICE RIVER, THE DELAWARE, THE SCHUYLKILL AND WHITE CLAY CREEK THAT WE LEARNED THE VALUE OF COMMUNITY-BASED EFFORTS AIMED AT MEETING ENVIRONMENTAL, CULTURAL AND ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES SIMULATANESOUSLY.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE WERE ABLE TO OBSERVE, AND OFTEN PARTICIPATE IN, AN ARRAY OF STATE, LOCAL AND PRIVATE SECTOR INITIATIVES WHICH FORMER EPA ADMINISTRATOR AND CEO OF THE WWF BILL REILLY DESCRIBED AS “THE NEXT GENERATION OF LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION APPROACHES”.  INITIATIVES SUCH AS:

--THE DELAWARE AND LEHIGH NATL. HERITAGE CORRIDOR

--WATERFRONT REVITALIZATION AND URBAN RIVERS, SUCH AS THE COOPER RIVER IN NJ; SCHUYLKILL RIVER IN PA; AND THE BRANDYWINE & CHRISTIANA RIVERS IN DE.

--LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR APPROACHES TO SCENIC RIVERS

--RIVER RESTORATION EFFORTS SUCH AS THE SCHUYLKILL

--PRIVATE SECTOR LAND CONSERVARTION EFFORTS SUCH AS THE DUPONT CORPORATION DONATION FOR THE WHITE CLAY CREEK PRESERVE

--AND, MANY, MANY MORE...

LOCAL INITIATIVE HAS BEEN INTERESTING TO WATCH IN THE WATERSHED.

--THE TRADITION OF CONSERVATION, PROTECTION AND REVITALIZATION HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME.

--AS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND PRIVATE GROUPS HAVE BEEN WORKING INDEPENDENTLY WE HAVE 1) LEARNED MORE ABOUT HOW WATERSHEDS AND LANDSCAPES FUNCTIONS ENVIRONMENTALLY, CULTURALLY AND ECONOMICALLY; AND 2) WE HAVE LEARNED THAT PARTNERSHIPS ARE AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF GETTING THINGS DONE.

3) ALSO LEARNED THAT GOOD INDIVIDUAL EFFORTS OFTEN AREN’T ENOUGH—TYRANNY OF SMALL SOLUTIONS.

--THESE LESSONS HAVE ENCOURAGED US TO LINK TOGETHER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS AND SIEZE OPPORTUNITIES.

THIS TREND IN WORKING TOGETHER IN A COALITION OR COLLABORATION IS MORE AND MORE COMMON AND IS A TRADEMARK IN SOME OF THE MORE SUCCESSFUL WATERSHED-WIDE EFFORTS AROUND THE US AND THE WORLD

--CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM FOCUSES ON A WATERSHED APPROACH TO PROTECTION AND RESTORING WATER QUALITY AND LIVING RESOURCES.  THE EFFORT INCLUDES COOPERATION BETWEEN THE FEDS AND THE STATES BUT ALSO A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADVISORY COMMITTEE; CITIZENS ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL ADVIOSRY COMMITTEE.  IT HAS BEEN USED TO CREATE AN EXTENSIVE DATA BASE FOR DECISION-MAKING; A SMALL WATERSHED GRANTS PROGRAM; A LAND, GROWTH AND STEWARDSHIP EFFORT; AND A GATEWAYS AND WATERTRAILS FUNDING PROGRAM.

--THE POTOMAC AMERICAN HERITAGE RIVER ALSO USES A WATERSHED-WIDE APPROACH TO ADD-VALUE TO LOCAL INITIATIVES.  FOR EXAMPLE THE POTOMAC IS USING A COALITION TO ADVANCE THE WORK OF LAND TRUSTS; CREATE A “CONGRESS FOR THE POTOMAC”; ORGANIZE A POTOMAC CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS; AND ESTABLISH A CIVIC AND WATERSHED TRAINING PROGRAM CALLED “LEADERSHIP POTOMAC”.

MAYBE A QUOTE FROM MCHARG—INSERT

BUT OUTSIDE EXAMPLES ARE JUST THAT, RIGHT? 

GEORGE BORDASH OF THE WILDCAT BROOK NATIONAL, SCENIC RIVER LOCAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS KNOWN TO SAY, “YOU CAN’T ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU WANT.  BUT IF YOU TRY SOME TIME, YOU JUST MIGHT FIND, YOU GET WHAT YOU NEED”.   GEORGE FIGURED OUT THAT WHAT WE WANT IS OFTEN DIFFERENT FROM WHAT WE NEED.  THIS AFTERNOON YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO ADVANCE YOUR EFFORTS.  I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO OUTLINE SOME OF THE WAYS OTHER GREAT WATERSHEDS HAVE APPROACHED THEIR EFFORT.

1. IT’S OFTEN HELPFUL TO KNOW WHERE YOUR WATERSHED EFFORTS ARE INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY?  WHO IS WORKING ON WHICH SUB-WATERSHEDSD WITHIN THE BASIN; WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO DO AND WHERE ARE THEY WITH THEIR EFFORTS?

1. MANY GROUPS TAKE TIME TO DESCRIBE WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE?  FAST FORWARD TO A YEAR FROM NOW AND ASK YOURSELF WHERE DO WE WANT TO BE—INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY?

1. THE NATURE OF THIS WORK HAS CHANGED FOREVER IT SEEMS THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THERE TO BE A LOCALLY-CREATED VISION, WHICH INCLUDES A DESCRIPTION OF NEEDS, ISSUES TO TACKLE AND MEASURES OF PROGRESS TO ASSESS.  A VISION HELPS REACH CONSENSUS AGREEMENT BUT CAN BE USED TO COMMUNICATE YOUR AGRENDA TO PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SERVICE PROVIDERS.

1. SOME EFFORTS ARE USING COALITIONS OR CONFEDERATIONS AS A WAY TO ADD-VALUE TO WHAT INDIVIDUAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE TRYING TO DO—AND AS A WAY TO COMPETE WITH OTHERS FOR RESOURCES AND ATTENTION. THIS TYPE OF APPROACH TO HELPING EACH OTHER AND YOURSELF IS COMPLEX BUT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE EFFECTIVE.

1. MANY GROUPS ARE LOOKING CLOSELY AT OTHER WATERSHED-WIDE AND LANDSCAPE MODELS FOR IDEAS TO HELP THEM DESIGN A “PLACE-SPECIFIC” APPROACH.  THERE HAS BEEN AN EXPLOSION OF LOCAL INNOVATION ACROSS THE US AND THE WORLD.  IN ADDITION TO LOOKING AT PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED EXAMPLES SUCH AS THE CHESAPEAKE AND POTOMAC, LOOK INTERNATIONALLY AT SUCH PLACES LIKE:

1. RHINE RIVER AND THE PORT OF ROTTERDAM:  LARGEST PORT IN THE WORLD; 30,000 SHIPS AND 300 MILLION TONS OF GOODS.  WORKING ON A STRATEGY FOR CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS.  EMPHASIS ON KEEPING THE PORT OPEN, BUT ALSO ELIMINATING SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION; SAFEGUARDING DRINKING WATER AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF THE NORTH SEA.

1. AUEN INSTITUTE FOR FLOODPLAIN ECOLOGY:  PART OF THE WORLDWIDE FUND FOR NATURE BASED IN RASTATT, GERMANY.  TAKING A HOLLISTIC VIEW OF RIVERS AND DEDICATING RESEARCH TO HELPING GOVERENMENTS PRESERVE AND IMPROVE RIVERINE LANDSCAPES THROUGHOUT EUROPE.  FOCUS IS ON RESTORING ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BENEFITS OF PROTECTING AND RESTORING THE FUNCTIONS OF NATURAL FLOODPLAINS ALONG THE RHINE, DANUBE AND ELBE RIVERS.

1. EMSCHER PARK IN GERMANY’S RHUR VALLEY—ONCE THE HEARTLAND OF EUROPE’S STEEL AND COAL INDUSTRY. USING AN INTEGRATED APPROACH TO REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO ILLUSTRATE THE LATEST THINKING IN ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC REGENERATION OF A FORMER INDUSTRIAL REGION.  17 AUTHORITIES WORKING WITH THE STATE AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENTS, USING EXISTING PROGRAM MONIES MATCHED WITH PRIVATE DOLLARS TO SUPPORT 120 PROJECTS.   OVER A TEN YEAR PERIOD WHICH HELPED TO LEVERAGE 5 BILLION DM’S.

D.  THE COUNTRYSIDE STEWARDSHIP EXCHANGE

1. MANY EFFORTS INCLUDE SOME TYPE OF “INDICATORS” TO MEASURE PROGRESS TO HELP DOCUMENT RESULTS.  ALONG THE MOUTH OF THE SUSQUEHANNA HAVRE DE GRACE PROPOSED THAT EXISTING RIVER ACCESS SITES BE USED AS “WINDOWS ON THE RIVER” TO ANSWER THE QUESTION “HOW IS THE RIVER DOING”?  MAKING US OF PLACES WHERE PEOPLE COME IN CONTACT WITH THE RIVER CAN BE AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF SHARING USEFUL ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION.

1. FINALLY, MANY GROUPS HAVE LEARNED THAT IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO DO GOOD WORK BUT IT’S IMPORTANT TO MARKET, MARKET, MARKET… YOUR RIVER AND EFFORT.  SUCCESS IN MANY WAYS IS A STATE OF MIND THAT CAN BE CONTAGIOUS.

SO WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? WHERE ARE YOU NOW? AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, WHERE ARE YOU GOING WITH THIS DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED EFFORT?  THE COLLABORATION AND ENERGY THAT LED TO THIS MEETING AND IS VISIBLE TODAY IS WONDERFUL.  THESE TYPES OF GATHERINGS HAVE VALUE IN RE-CONNECTING US WITH EACH OTHER TO SHARE IDEAS AND INSPIRATION.  THEY CAN ALSO BE A PLACE TO DISCUSS HOW YOU CAN MAKE THE WHOLE OF THIS EFFORT GREATER THAN THE SUM OF Its PARTS.

LET ME LEAVE YOU WITH A COUPLE OF THOUGHTS.

1. FIRST, RECOGNIZE THAT YOUR INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE WATERSHED NEEDS ARE VERY DIFFERENT AND ANYTHING YOU DO TOGETHER MUST ADD-VALUE TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING INDIVIDUALLY.  HOW IS THE WHOLE LARGER THAN IT’S PARTS?

1. SECOND, ALTHOUGH LOCAL INITIATIVES ARE MORE AND MORE RECONGIZED AND SUPPORTED BY PUBLIC AGENCIES AND PRIVATE GROUPS, THE COMPETITION FOR RESOURCES IS INTENSE AND IT’S IMPORTANT TO DO GOOD WORK AND LET PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT IT.

1. FINALLY, AS YOU FASHION A “CALL TO IMPLEMENTATION” THINK ABOUT SOMETHING RICHARD WAKEFORD, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF THE BRITISH COUNTRYSIDE COMMISSION ONCE TOLD ME WAS A KEY TO THE SUCCESS OF HIS SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS.

--HE SAID, DEVELOP IDEAS WHICH ARE EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND AGREED TO BY THE MAJOR STAKEHOLDERS.

--THEN DEMONSTRATE HOW THE IDEAS WORK AND THEIR BENEFITS IN SPECIFIC PLACES.

--HE SAID, IF THE DEMONSTRATIONS WORK, PUBLICIZE THE RESULTS AND GIVE THE IDEAS AWAY SO THAT OTHER PEOPLE MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP CARRY OUT THE WORK.

1. FINALLY, BE SURE THAT YOUR WORK ISN’T ABOUT GOVERNMENTS, COMMISSIONS, GROUPS, OR COUNCILS.  IT’S NOT ABOUT ACRONYMS, MEETINGS, REPORTS OR SLOGANS. ALTHOUGH IMPORTANT RECONGITION AND ENDLESS PROCESS ARE NO SUBSTITUTES FOR LOCALLY-LED ACTION.   REMEMBER THAT YOUR WORK IS ABOUT THE DELAWARE RIVER, IT’S WATERSHEDS; IT’S PEOPLE AND THEIR VISION FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS SPECIAL PLACE.

IT’S A PRIVILEGE TO BE HERE IN THE DELAWARE RIVER WATERSHED SPEAKING WITH YOU ABOUT ONE OF THE GREAT RIVERS OF AMERICA.  YOUR WORK IS IMPORTANT AND THE WAY YOU DO IT IS UNIQUE.  MAY YOU HAVE CONTINUED SUCCESS!

THANK YOU!

Upper Etowah River Site Conservation Planning Strategies Workshop Presentation

Upper Etowah River

Site Conservation Planning Strategies Workshop

Sponsored by The Nature Conservancy of Georgia

July 26-27, 2001

Cartersville, GA

"Watershed Protection Strategies"

Prepared by J. Glenn Eugster, Assistant Regional Director, Partnerships Office, National Park Service, National Capital Region, Washington, D.C.

Background:  Developing a river/ watershed conservation planning strategy requires that you know about the place you are interested in and the people who live, work and recreate within that place.   Successful conservation strategies are almost always based on some type of planning--a formula for conservation decision making.   

How do you think decisions are made?  What are the ingredients of 

a good decision?  What is your role in the decision making 

process?  How do you think things work?  These are all questions 

that are important to consider as you design your strategy.

Successful watershed conservation strategies need a way--call it a model or a decision-making formula, for linking public desires, government policies, science and management.  The formula is for understanding how a place, or a culture, works.  It's a way to understand people's relationship with nature.  It's a way to better understand a watershed so that you can help to provide better information to decision-makers.

What formula do you use when you think about a strategy for the Etowah River watershed?  Whether you know it or not, you have one. Whether you've written it down on paper or have it rambling around inside your head, you have a personal strategy or model that you use to do whatever you do.  It's the way you think things work--or should work.  It's the way you make decisions and get things done.  Most of all it's an important part of your involvement in this effort.

Experiences, training or our colleagues often shape our personal approaches to watershed conservation.  Hubert Owens at the University of Georgia's School of Environmental Design where I was trained in landscape architecture, civic design and planning shaped my initial approach.  I also studied with Ian McHarg, author of "Design With Nature" and Jon Berger author, of "Human Ecology and the Regional Plan".  More recently my approach was influenced by a project I did with William McDonough, formerly with the President's Council on Sustainable Development.

The sum total of those influences, and the time I've spent working with communities, shapes the approach I use to help communities with their conservation strategies.

Everyone doing watershed conservation or site planning has their own approach.  Some other more recognized organizational approaches include:

RIVERWORK: National Park Service Rivers, Trails & Conservation 

Assistance Program

Watershed Protection Approach: U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency, Office of Water 

CBEP-Community-Based Environmental Protection Approach: U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Policy 

As a group it's important for you to agree on your approach to the 

Etowah River watershed conservation strategy.  However, agreeing 

on a strategy starts with your own.  What is your approach?  

Sketch it on one page and explain it to someone!  Compare yours 

with the others to get a good idea of how you and your groups

views the watershed.

Principles of Watershed Conservation

A watershed conservation strategy must be based on certain assumptions that you recognize and agree on.  These assumptions form the basis for your strategy and the principles that you adhere to throughout your work.

Based on a variety of conservation experiences in watersheds throughout the U.S. the following are examples of watershed principles.  Sample techniques are listed to help illustrate, or serve as an information source for each principle.

Principle 1: The process must be locally led, open to the public, objective and inclusive. 

Technique: Dialogue is a technique used to meet each other below our opinions.  It relies on story, skill and experience.  The core requirements for Dialogue are: 1) treating the other(s) as equal in every respect; 2) being willing and able to listen and respond empathically; and 3)being willing to bring one's own and others' assumptions into the open without judgement.

Reference:  Martin, Daniel, Core Requirements for Dialogue, Interview with Anne and Andrew Pearson, Edgewater, (aplace@toad.net) MD 1999

Principle 2: All partners are equally important. 

Technique:  Everyone is a designer!  "Listen to everyone in the design process.  No one is a participant only or a designer only: Everyone is a participant-designer.  Honor the special knowledge that each person brings".

Reference:  Cowan, Stuart, and others, Ecological Design, Island Press, Washington, DC, 1996

Principle 3: All environmental, community and economic values must be recognized. 

Technique: Mulitobjective:  "To encourage comprehensive and cooperative planning among all individuals and institutions concerned with rivers and their adjacent lands, to facilitate decisions regarding such use which reflect a high degree of consensus at all stages of decision making, which maximize public and private benefits with the least adverse impacts on significant river/ watershed values".

Reference:  Riley, Ann, L., Restoring Streams in Cities: A Guide for Planners, Policymakers, and Citizens, Island Press, Washington, DC, 1998

 Principle 4: The process must be consensus-based and agreement should be secured at the beginning, and at every major decision-making point in the process. Deciding what action to take to conserve a river, a watershed, and specific sites within it requires a process--an equation, to decide what actions should be taken; by who; and how.

Technique: RIVERWORK BOOK: A reference manual for local watershed planning efforts.  It presents a process that emphasizes citizen participation, networking and constituency building to develop grassroots river conservation efforts.  The process encourages communities to consider a variety of factors and alternatives before choosing the best way to protect their river and watershed.  

Reference:  Eugster, J. Glenn, others, RIVERWORK Book, U.S. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA, 1988 

Arnold, Matthew, B., and others, The Power of Environmental Partnerships, Management Institute for Environment & Business, The Dryden Press, Austin, Texas, 1995

• Principle 5: Recognize and build upon existing traditions of 

stewardship, partnerships, consensus building and community initiative. 

Technique: Discovery: Refers to efforts to identify and support conservation activities initiated by communities themselves.  Project discoverers assume that appropriate local resource management regimes already exist and that the role of external actors is to assist in legitimizing them

Reference:  Seymour, Frances, J., Are Successful Community-based Conservation Projects Designed or Discovered? Natural Connections, Island Press, Washington, DC, 1994

 Principle 6: Ultimately local governments make local decisions. All watersheds are local. 

Home rule is a fundamental part of any watershed conservation strategy.  Local officials are elected to represent different parts of the watershed and they have been empowered to make decisions about the future of the area.  They must be involved in all aspects of the strategy for it to be successful.

• Principle 7: Private property must be respected and recognized as a legitimate watershed value.

Technique: Private landowners value land in many different ways.  In addition to using their land as a place to live, many landowners enjoy the natural and cultural resource values of their property for recreation purposes or to enhance the quality of their lives.  Private landowners also value their land as an economic investment and source of income.  Various conservation guides provide landowners with information on government and private sector programs and assistance they may be eligible for should their land possess certain values. 

Reference:  Wesley-Copeland, Jorie, Private Landowner's Wetlands Assistance Guide: Voluntary Options for Wetlands Stewardship in Maryland, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 1992.

Johnson, Andrew, A Handbook for the Landowner: The Use and Protection of Privately Held Natural Lands, The Natural Lands Trust, Inc. Media, PA, 1982

Elements of Watershed Conservation Strategies 

Although each watershed conservation strategy should be tailored to the ecological, sociological, political environment of a particular place the typical elements to be considered are:

1.  Develop a Pre-Planning Strategy

It's important to hold initial discussions with key leaders in order to introduce the idea, assess the amount of interest there is in pursuing the conservation effort, and if support exists, outline the approach to be used.  Always summarize the understanding in writing.

Technique:  Memorandum of Agreement are regularly used to agree on key parties; role and function of each party; project goals; reason for the effort; public involvement opportunities; products; individual partner assignments; a conceptual description of how decision making will be handled; and a schedule.

2. Select a Leadership-Style

Typically there is a small core group of sponsoring organizations that organize the effort.  Eventually a locally appointed Steering Committee will lead the effort and local coordinators and State government assistance will be required. The group will work best if there is a balance of private sector and government involvement.

Technique:  In South Carolina a statewide watershed effort selected steering committee representatives to reflect all of the major values (i.e. farms, timber management areas; natural areas; etc.)

1. Identify, Understand and Characterize Resource Values 

What are the natural, historic, cultural, recreational, tourism, economic, and other values which are important to the area, people, and living resources?   How do they function?  Where are they?  What opportunities and constraints do they offer for future uses of the watershed?

Technique:  There are many ways to identify important watershed values and functions.  Successful efforts typically rely on good science and good civics.  What areas do the scientists believe to be important to the health of the watershed and what are the opportunities and constraints for the use of these values?  What areas do the different groups and interests, who care most about certain values (i.e. fish, forests, farms, etc.), believe are most important?

Reference: Thompson, George, E., Steiner, R. Frederick, Ecological Design and Planning, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New York, NY 1997

Eugster, Glenn, J.  Statewide River Assessments, U.S. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA 1986  

4. Identify who are the groups, agencies and organizations interested in these values and functions.

Technique:  River Gods Analysis.  Describe, by major river/ watershed value, the key private groups and government watershed-based organizations with representatives who speak for the river, its watershed, and the people and living resources that own, govern, use and enjoy it.

Reference: Eugster, Glenn, J., The River Gods, National Park Service, National Capital Region, Washington, D.C. October 2000

5.  Involve a broad cross-section of interested individuals and organizations in all aspects of your planning and decision making

Technique: Public involvement is a primary means of building support and developing a constituency for the watershed conservation effort.  The value of public involvement lies in the sponsor of the effort sharing responsibility with the communities, residents and interests who will influence the success or failure of the effort.

Reference:  Eugster, Glenn, J. Steps in State & Local Greenway Conservation Plans: Public Involvement Plan Guidelines, U.S. National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA 1988.

6. Describe the General Goals & Objectives 

Technique:  Goals are a means of guiding you toward specific accomplishments and of keeping you on track as you proceed.  What does success look like to you and others?  Start by asking key leaders, and others, what they think success will look like after one or two years of your effort?

Reference:  RIVERWORK Book (see Principle #4)

7. Identify and Assess the Needs, Concerns and Issues 

Technique:  Normally different interests have different values and ideas about the future of the watershed. These local interests or issues are at the heart of watershed conservation and need to be recognized, described and briefly analyzed during the project.

Reference:  RIVERWORK Book (see Principle #4)

8. Refine Goals & Objectives and Establish Measures of Success

Technique:  Goals are based on resources values and functions and issues or matters of concern.  Goals should be refined now to build on what you did in task #6 and to incorporate what you've learned from task #3 (values and functions) and #7. (needs, concerns and issues).  This task helps to create consensus out of contrasting opinions, and to involve all the interests in the decision-making process.

Once the goals have been refined it is helpful to identify the specific environmental and organizational measures of success for each goal.  This will enable you to measure your progress.

References:  ___________, Measures of Success-Unpublished Discussion Paper, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, undated.

9. Consider All Alternatives 

How can values be protected or promoted, issues resolved, and goals be achieved?  What ideas do people have?  What programs, tools, techniques, laws, and approaches are available?  Where do you start looking?

Technique: Eugster, Glenn, J., Conservation Programs, Tools, Techniques & Resources, Prepared for The Conservation Fund's Land Conservation Training Course, Duke University, 1998.

1. Select Actions 

Most people get involved with watershed conservation because they either want to keep things the same or get something accomplished. Action is key to watershed conservation!  

Technique:  What actions need to be taken?  Who will take the action? How will the action be taken?  When will the action be taken?  The actions selected should:

 Conserve values 

 Achieve goals 

 Resolve issues 

 Consider appropriate alternatives 

 Reflect public attitudes 

 Identify short and long-term actions

 Achieve desired results

1. Take Action 

Select both short and long-term actions to carryout your strategy. Starting small and building incrementally creates momentum toward larger goals and visions.

Technique:  The Pocomoke River Alliance in Maryland decided that they need to do something real to help get their new watershed group off the ground.  They decided to create a Nature & Exercise Trail on some City land adjacent to the Pocomoke River.  The project helped establish the group, raise funds, provide important public access to the river and increase regional awareness about the Alliance's work.

1. Document, Publicize & Celebrate Results 

The success of any watershed conservation effort rests in its ability to demonstrate results.  Measuring and publicizing tangible results is key to sustaining leadership commitment and public support. Track your progress and publicize results!

Technique:  How is the river doing?  Each year Maryland Representative Bernie Fowler uses his "Sneaker Index" to measure water quality on the Patuxent River.  Other private organizations often hold a "River Day" celebration each year to go over results, and commitments, and recognize success.  The Friends of the Potomac, for example, give six awards each year to recognize results.

1. Evaluate Progress and Refine Strategy 

Periodically refine the strategy based on what you learn and current conditions.

For further Information: For information on this paper or the techniques and references contact: J. Glenn Eugster, Assistant Regional Director, Partnerships Office, National Park Service, National Capital Region, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW, Washington, DC 20242.  By telephone call (202) 619-7492.  By e-mail: glenn_eugster@nps.gov

Watershed Conservation Strategies Upper Etowah Watershed

Watershed Conservation Strategies 

Upper Etowah Watershed

Prepared by Glenn Eugster, Assistant Regional Director, Partnerships Office, National Park Service, National Capital Region, Washington, D.C. July 2001

Conservation Programs, Tools, Techniques and Resources

I. Overview 

 Conservation Programs--Describe orchestrated and sustainable 

activities to achieve long-term watershed conservation goals.  

 Service providers---Identify governments or non-government 

organizations who are using one or more techniques.

II. General Framework for Cataloging Programs 

 Government & Non-Profit Conservation Organizations can help.

 Form Follows Function! Principle of architecture as well as 

conservation program use and design.

 Many, many lists of programs, actions, tools and techniques,

Public and private

Process and tool

Concept and specific detail

Local and global

Environmental and social and economic

 Selecting a program or action requires a formula to find the 

proper fit.

 Money is never a problem once people, governments and groups

agree that they want to do something.

III. Case Study: Institutional Arrangements

Metropolitan Rivers, Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN.  

Questions:  

1. What do you want to do?  

2. Who do you want to do it? 

3. How should they do it? 

4. How will they do it?

5. Area: Define geographic context

6. Authority: Ownership; Local government authorities; State or federal legislation, etc.

7. Membership: Identify the stakeholders (full partners)

8. Existing Powers: What can you do now?

Administration & Operations

Decision-making:

Planning:

Coordination:

Cooperation/ Collaboration:

Regulation:

Resource management:

Land Acquisition:

Technical/ Informational assistance:

Funding:

Acquisition

Operation & Maintenance

Planning

Other

9. Institutional Arrangement: How do you want to partner?

10. Advantages:  What do you like?

11. Disadvantages:  What do you dislike?

12. Desired Powers: What do you need?

IV. Framework: An Outline for Describing Programs

 Catalog of who is doing what: No central data base/ Scattered 

   information, everywhere..................

 Best Examples of Source Information:

A.  AUTHORITIES:  What authorities do governments, groups/ organizations have?

 Poor's Almanac: David Poor, Unpublished database

 Resource Guide to State Environmental Management, The Council of State Governments, Lexington, KY 

B.  PERFORMANCE: Where is information on how well programs perform?

 National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Program Analysis: USFWS/ National Marine Fisheries 

 Congressional Research Service: Varies/ Scenic Lands Protection/ Wild & Scenic Rivers/ Ecosystem Management/ Conservation Reserve

• Ecosystem Management in the US, University of Michigan/ Wilderness Society 
• Top Ten Watershed Lessons Learned, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC 1997

C.  ACTIVITIES: Where is information on various organization/ agency activities?

 USEPA:  Watershed Protection; Regional Geographic Initiative; Smart Growth; State and Local Wetlands grants; Chesapeake Bay Program; Great Lakes Program; etc.

 US Forest Service: Urban Resource Partnership Program; State and Private Forestry Programs

 US Natural Resource Conservation Service: Conservation Reserve Program

 US Department of Transportation: Intermodal Surface Transportation Enhancement Act

 US National Park Service: Greenways, Byways, Rails to Trails, and River Conservation Assistance; Historic Preservation

 States: Heritage Area Programs; Program Open Space; Tourism

 Non-Government Organizations: Bayscapes; Greenway Grants; Sacred Places; Community Forums/ Summits; Watershed Development Standards; Smart Growth Assistance; Community Capacity Building

 Land Trust Alliance: Local land trust information 

 The Nature Conservancy: Sustainable Compatible Economies

 Local Governments: Watershed Protection Plans; land acquisition; heritage tourism; cultural resource protection; zoning; economic development

 Private Landowner Wetlands Assistance Guide: Voluntary Options for Wetlands Stewardship in Maryland, EPA, Washington, D.C. 

D: CASE STUDIES: What information describes what is being done at the community/ local level?

• International Countryside Stewardship Exchange Reports 
• The Landscape of Conservation Stewardship, Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, Conservation Study Institute, Woodstock, VT. 2000
• The Nature Conservancy's Last Great Places
• EPA's Regional Geographic Initiative's
• National Park Service's State & Local River Conservation Assistance Projects

 Inventory of Current EPA Efforts to Protect Ecosystems, USEPA, Office of Water, Washington, D.C. 

 Chesapeake Bay Communities: A Catalog of Local Initiatives to Protect & Restore the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, USEPA, Annapolis, MD. 

• Forest and Riparian Buffer Conservation: Local Case Studies from the Chesapeake Bay Program, US EPA, Forestry Workgroup and Nutrient Subcommittee, Annapolis, MD 1996
• Floods, Floodplains and Folks,, National Park Service, Philadelphia, PA, 1996

E. TOOLS & TECHNIQUES: What information is available on how things work?  

 Citizen's Guide to River Conservation, Rolf Diamant, Glenn Eugster, Chris Duerksen, The Conservation Foundation, Washington, DC, 1984

 Rural By Design: Randall Arendt/ Natural Lands Trust

 Landowner Master Planning: Philadelphia Conservationist/ Natural Lands Trust, Media, PA

 Performance Zoning: Lane Kendig/ Carter Van Dyke/ Bucks County Planning Commission, PA.

 Smart Growth: State of MD/ EPA Urban Economic Design Division

 Watershed Protection Approach: EPA Office of Water

 Integrating Build-out Analysis and Water Quality Modeling to Predict the Environmental Impacts of Alternative Development Scenarios: US EPA Chesapeake Bay Program Office, Annapolis, MD 1997

 Greenways: Daniel Smith, The Conservation Fund

• Planning & Growth Management in the States, Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, Cambridge, MA. 
• Green Urbanism: Learning from European Cities, Tim Beatly, Island Press, Washington, DC 2000
• Green Development: Literature Summary & Benefits Associated with Alternative Development Approaches, USEPA, Office of Water, Washington, D.C. 
• Habitat Conservation Planning: Endangered Species and Urban Growth, Tim Beatley, University of Texas Press, Austin, TX, 1996

 Site Planning for Urban Stream Protection, Center for Watershed Protection, Ellicott City, MD 

• Consensus Agreement on Model Development Principles to Protect Our Streams, Lakes and Wetlands, Site Planning Roundtable, Center for Watershed Protection, Ellicott City, MD. 
• Model Development Principles To Protect Our Streams, Lakes and Wetlands, Center for Watershed Protection, Ellicott City, MD 1998
• An Inventory of EPA Headquarters Ecosystem Tools, USEPA, Office of Policy, Planning & Evaluation, Washington, D.C. 

 Watershed Tools Directory: A Collection of Watershed Tools, USEPA, Office of Water, Washington, D.C. 

• Building Healthy Communities: Resources for Compatible Development, Corporation for Enterprise Development, Washington, D.C. 
• Principles of Lowcountry Vernacular Design, I'On Development, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, 1997
• Environmental Partnerships: A Field Guide for Nonprofit Organizations and Community Interests, Management Institute for Environment and Business, New York, NY 1995

F.  INTEGRATED APPROACHES: What information is available on how activities/ actions are packaged together?

 Program Integration and Integration of Multiple Objectives: Linking and Coordinating Public and Private Actions (i.e. CBEP, river corridor management; coastal zone management; landowner master planning; Main Street)

 State of Florida Program Integration--Ecosystem Management

• Greenline Parks/ Protected Areas
• Heritage Areas (e.g. SC Heritage Area, Augusta Canal, GA., St. Johns American Heritage River, FL., etc.)
• Sustainable Communities: Task Force Report, President's Council on Sustainable Development, Washington, D.C.
• Institutional Framework for Watershed Management Programs: Profiles and Analysis of Selected Programs, US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Policy, Washington, D.C. 1994

G.  RESOURCES: Where is information about technical, financial and information assistance?

 Sources of Funding Guides

 Annual Reports: People, Places and Partnerships: A Progress Report on Community-Based Environmental Protection, USEPA, Washington, D.C.

 Case Studies/ Project Reports

 Financing Alternatives: Innovative Financing Ideas for Restoring the Chesapeake Bay, Environmental Finance Center, University of Maryland, College Park, MD

• The Power of Environmental Partnerships: Management Institute for Environment & Business, New York, NY 

H. SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION: Where do you get leads? 

 Bookstores--especially Borders, University Bookstores, International efforts (e.g. Countryside Stewardship, Protected Landscapes, Sustainability, Human Ecology)

 Magazine Racks

 Conferences & Meetings

• Government and private sector work accessed through networking
• Websites
• Hotlines

V. For Further Information: Contact Glenn Eugster, Assistant Regional Director, National Park Service, National Capital Regional, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW, Room 350, Washington, D.C. 20242.  Telephone (202) 619-7492.  By E-mail: glenn_eugster@nps.gov