Welcome and Introductions ...

1. Introduction - Areawide Conservation Planning Course Welcomeand Introductions ... Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 1

2. Pulling Together. 1. Why do geese fly in formation? 2. What happens when one goose leaves? 3. Does the same goose always lead? 4. Why do geese honk while in formation? 5. When a goose can’t keep up, what happens? 6. Why is one side of the “V” longer? Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 2

3. Key Points … AWP • Areawide conservation planning or AWP concerns natural and altered systems and the interactions of ecological, economic and social processes that sustain areawide resources. • Your mission is to takethese areawide planningconcepts home and assistthe local people in applyingthem in their community. Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 3

4. Introduction - Objectives • Demonstrate the relationship between AWP and the overall NRCS planning effort • Describe the focus of AWP • Describe the advantages of AWP • Recognize the NRCS policy for AWP • Describe the integration of NEPA with AWP NEPA Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 4

5. Kinds of Plans • Conservation Plans • Areawide Conservation Plans • Areawide ConservationAssessment • Comprehensive Planswith Units of Government Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 5

6. Watershed Plans The process used for Areawide Conservation Assessments and Areawide Conservation Plans also applies to Watershed Planning. Specific programs such as PL-566 have additional requirements for information and formatting. Kinds of Plans Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 6

7. The Need for Planning … the Hydro-illogical Cycle DROUGHT APATHY PANIC A WATER CYCLE DISCUSS ALTERNATIVES DISCUSS ALTERNATIVES PANIC APATHY FLOOD Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 7

8. The Planning Process Phase I Collection and Analysis Inventory Resources IdentifyProblems AnalyzeResourceData Determine Objectives Phase III Application & Evaluation Phase II Decision Support Implement the Plan EvaluateAlternatives Formulate Alternatives Evaluate the Plan MakeDecisions Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 8

9. Other processes … Example 1 - US Army Corps of Engineers: • Problem/opportunity identification • Inventorying/forecasting conditions • Formulating alternative plans • Evaluating alternative plans • Comparing alternative plans • Selecting a plan Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 9

10. Other processes … Example 2 - Federal Guide for Watershed Analysis: • Characterization of the watershed • Identification of issues and key questions • Description of current conditions • Description of reference conditions • Synthesis and interpretation of information • Recommendations 15 Authoring Organizations Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 10

11. Other processes … Example 3 - Center for Watershed Protection: • Establish a watershed baseline • Set up a watershed management structure • Determine budgetary resources for planning • Project future land use change • Determine watershed goals • Develop watershed and sub-watershed plans • Adopt and implement the plans • Revisit and update the plans Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 11

12. Other processes … Example 4 - Council of State Governments: • Define your goals and objectives • Identify your target audience • Create your message • Package your message • Distribute your message • Evaluate your outreach plan Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 12

13. Other processes … Example 5 - Columbia River Inter-Tribal Commission*: • Find existing watershed restoration organizations • Identify all stakeholders • Organize and share project information and views • Form a technical advisory team to find solutions • Establish common values and goals to build consensus • Describe and agree on shared visions, issues, strategies • Make projects feasible and of a doable size • Decide how to monitor and evaluate projects • Change strategies based on monitoring * Protecting & Restoring Watersheds Handbook Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 13

14. Process selection? • What if a local group chooses a planning process other than the NRCS process? Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 14

15. Single client Single landowner Single planner FOTG criteria Farm/Ranch scale Technicalskills Multiple clients Multiple stakeholders Planning team Consensus criteria Geographic scale Peopleskills Conservation Planning <> Areawide Planning Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 15

16. What is the Focus of AWP? • Resource issues identified by the local people • Improvement and sustainability of all natural resources • Addresses resource conditions for large areas, e.g. watersheds, counties, communities Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 16

17. What are the Advantages of AWP? • Improves awareness and is locally-led • Coordinates community actions • Involves broad representation • Targets resources; improves efficiency • Forms partnerships and leverages resources • Looks at the big picture Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 17

18. Other Key Points • Program-neutral • Adaptive management • Conflict resolution • Facilitates inclusion of andoutreach to stakeholders • Progressive planning A one-dimensional plan? Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 18

19. NRCS Planning Policy(GM 480, Part 409) • The planning process is used for all NRCS-led plans … conservation, areawide, watershed, programmatic • Resources are managed for sustainability • Interdisciplinary teams are used • An early scoping process is employed • Opportunities are provided for publicparticipation Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 19

20. Review • What is the relationship between AWP and the overall NRCS planning effort? • What is the focus of AWP? • What are the advantages of AWP? • Where is the NRCS policy for AWP? Green light? Areawide Conservation Planning Course - 20