How to Start Your Watershed Project Off on the Right Foot

1. How to Start Your Watershed Project Off on the Right Foot Angie Brown, White River Watershed Project

2. White River Watershed Project • Sponsored by Delaware County Soil and Water Conservation District • Began in 2001 • 319-driven – Planning and Implementation • Challenges: • Diversification of funding • Where to head in the future • Incorporation of wider watershed population

3. Objective • Define the challenges of watershed leaders across the state • Provide prophylactic treatment for beginning watershed groups

4. Evolution of this Project • Original intent: survey watershed leaders around the state to produce materials • Pilot performed at April 14-16 IWLA gathering • Sample questions focused on successes and challenges • Discovery: Purdue University pre-IWLA survey

5. Purdue Survey

6. Purdue Survey • 25 questions • Group characteristics (e.g. size, age, composition) • Needs of group (e.g. acquisition/use of data, funding) • Barriers to success • Effectiveness (self-evaluated)

7. Lessons Learned • 87 responses • 76% of WG have at least one employee • 70% of WG rely on volunteers with some frequency • Most WG need some assistance in accessing or using information sources • Funding influences perceived effectiveness – more funding = greater feelings of effectiveness • Time invested in meeting with local officials considered very effective in relation to time spent

8. Tools for Dissemination • DRAFT Printed Brochure – available through Purdue Extension, IDEM, IASWCD, others?

11. Tools for Dissemination Web-based material

12. Tools for Dissemination • IWLA • Development of additional materials?

13. References • Broussard, S.R., C. Washington-Ottombre, B.T. Ladd, J.R. Frankenberger. (2006) “Survey of Watershed Groups in Indiana.” Draft Report. Purdue University.