Where does CVI work?

1. Where does CVI work? When invited, CVI provides assistance throughout the Mid-Atlantic Highlands of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

2. CASE STUDY – 2000-2002 Stewards of the Upper Rapidan Local needs Local capacity Information Solutions Implementation • Community was concerned about flooding and interested in reducing flood damage

3. CASE STUDY – 2000-2002 Build organizational capacity Local needs Local capacity Information Solutions Implementation • Provided planning, organization building, and development assistance • Encouraged partnerships

4. CASE STUDY – 2000-2002 Gather necessary information Local needs Local capacity Information Solutions Implementation • Provided workshop on Natural Stream Channel Design

5. CASE STUDY – 2000-2002 Evaluating solutions Local needs Local capacity Information Solutions Implementation • Explored solutions with community • Built consensus for stream restoration and stabilization

6. CASE STUDY – 2000-2002 Facilitate implementation Local needs Local capacity Information Solutions Implementation • Completed 1.5 mile NSCD steam restoration project including: • Cattle exclusion • Riparian reforestation

7. Highlands Action Program Setting The Mid-Atlantic Highlands encompass approximately 79,000 square miles and extends from the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia on the east to the Ohio River on the west, and from the Catskills on the north to the North Carolina-Tennessee-Virginia state border on the south. West Virginia is the only state entirely within the Mid-Atlantic Highlands.

8. Mid-Atlantic Highlands Action Program (HAP) HAP can be the next generation of geographic programs—a large scale cooperative initiative in which states and locals drive change and outcomes are the leading measures of success. Background Governance Approach Pulse Stressors Opportunities Outcomes

9. CVI and EPA work together • 2004 Congressional language called for EPA to move HAP forward • Gave EPA $1.5 million to start • Continued to direct EPA to work with CVI • With resources CVI/EPA are starting HAP • State representation through liaisons • Test focus areas • Develop prioritization systems Background Governance Approach Pulse Stressors Opportunities Outcomes

10. Structure will strive for efficiency and effectiveness Background Governance Approach Pulse Stressors Opportunities Outcomes

11. Use integrated approach for selecting and implementing action projects Background Governance Approach Pulse Stressors Opportunities Outcomes

12. Biological condition shows room for improvement Background Governance Approach Pulse Stressors Opportunities Outcomes

13. Science can identify and rank stressors Water quality stressors Background Governance Approach Pulse Stressors Opportunities Outcomes

14. Building a restoration industry is an integrative opportunity Jobs/$Million of Spending • Unrecognized economic sector--$1trillion annually • Sector is fastest growing new category From Restoration Economy by Storm Cunningham Background Governance Approach Pulse Stressors Opportunities Outcomes

15. Actions result in on-the-ground outcomes • 18,000 stream miles will be revitalized • 5000 square miles of forest will be revitalized • 3,885,000 tons/yr of carbon sequestered • 105,954,000 ton/yr reduction in sediment load • 3000 jobs will be created Background Governance Approach Special Place Stressors Opportunities Outcomes

16. Current initiatives • Developing test focus areas (one per Highland state) • Attempting to understand environmental, economic, social impacts from restoration • Developing tools to prioritize, leverage, and plan for HAP

17. Testing HAP in focus areas • Virginia focus area is Rockingham Co. • Focus on stream restoration • Understanding environmental, economic, social connections • Many partners – DOF, Harrisonburg, CVI, NRCS, VGIF. • Future focus area selected with partners with prioritizations

18. Understanding restoration impacts • Planning conference to explore economics of ecological restoration • Evaluating economic and social impacts • Researching connections between environmental and economic conditions

19. Liaisons • EPA is providing resources to each of the four Highlands states to hire a liaison to work on HAP with EPA, Canaan Valley Institute (CVI), and other key partners. • The liaisons will utilize existing networks inform about HAP and build support.

20. SPECIFICALLY, Liaisons will: • Assist EPA, CVI, and other key partners in setting up the Highlands Action Program including developing a governance structure and a process for selecting and implementing action projects; • Help set priorities for the Program; • Assist in developing recon and feasibility reports on action projects; • Ensure that HAP and state government goals, objectives, and priorities are integrated • Ensure that action projects leverage both state and HAP resources for implementation; and • Develop budget and resource needs for the Program.

21. Two year outcomes: • 2-3 action projects are being contemplated in each state; • Collaborative efforts are on-going in HAP focus areas with action projects identified, feasibility studies completed, and resources available; • Each state has functioning advisory group that provides feedback through the liaison to the HAP managers and policy council members; • State plans for restoration and conservation and HAP implementation plans are integrated; and • State government perspectives and needs are reflected in the initial governance structure of the Program and states continue to participate in the effective operation of the Program.

22. Five year outcomes • Completion of at least two action projects in the liaison’s state; • Documentation of the environmental, economic, and social impacts of implemented action projects; • Work to implement action projects will be on-going in at least one focus area in each state agreed upon by all Program partners; • Priorities from state agencies and HAP will be integrated resulting in significant leveraging of resources for restoration and conservation action projects; and • States will be actively participating in the governance of the Program.