collaboration in watersheds building successful watershed coalitions
TRANSCRIPT
Collaboration in Watersheds
Building Successful Watershed Coalitions
John Wesley Powell
Gifford Pinchot
Looking Back
Why Water & Watersheds
• Humans are 65% water!
Water is Critical for:
• Agriculture
• Recreation
• Habitat
• Industry
About Me
About CUSP
MISSION
The Coalition for the Upper South Platte seeks to protect the water quality and ecological health of the Upper South Platte Watershed, through the cooperative efforts of watershed stakeholders,
with emphasis on community values and economic sustainability.
VISION
A Healthy Watershed – Now and in the Future
Brief early history
1996: Buffalo Creek Fire; Wild & Scenic; Source Water Protection
1997: Gov. entity stakeholders get together, sign MOU to form nonprofit
watershed group
1998: Incorporate, obtain 501(c)3; hire me
1999-2000: Develop strategic plan; Hi Meadow Fire; Upper South Platte Large-scale Restoration Project; hire Theresa
Springer
2002: Hayman Fire; staff grows to 6
Today
30 Employees
~$4,000,000 cash expenditures per year
~$1,000,000 in-kind and volunteer and resources per year
Watershed collaborative; forest collaborative; emergency response
collaborative
Support other NGOs, smaller entities
Collaboration1. Government entities do certain
things well, but2. They often don’t know how to work
on/with private landowners3. They are not nimble!!!
CollaborationSo other stakeholders need to be at the table, such as:
a.) Environmental groupsb.) Recreation interestsc.) Business ownersd.) Agriculturee.) Citizens
CollaborationAnd nonprofits
as partners are great at managing people and resources, leveraging funds, and creating a bridge in public-private partnerships!
The CUSP Template
• Board—Mixed; govt entities “own seats”; but not just govt! Up to 23 members, including reps for govt, environmental groups, recreations, interested citizens and businesses
• Not a “strong advocacy” group
• But—a “strong consensus” group
The CUSP Template• Utilize science-based decisions and adaptive management
• Work on variety of projects that fit the mission
• See the whole shed in watershed
• Strong management, and staff driven day-to-day operations within context of the plan
• Smart use of technology
CAROL EKARIUS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
COALITION FOR THE UPPER SOUTH [email protected]
www.uppersouthplatte.org 38000 Cherokee Ave.
PO Box 726 Lake George, Co. 80827 719-748-0033
QUESTIONS? COMMENTS