Indian & Howards CreekIndian & Howards CreekLocal Watershed PlanLocal Watershed Plan

Stakeholder “Kickoff” MeetingStakeholder “Kickoff” Meeting (18march’08)(18march’08)– Welcome & IntroductionsWelcome & Introductions– Overview of EEP Local Watershed Planning Overview of EEP Local Watershed Planning (LWP)(LWP)

– EEP Project Implementation; Example ProjectsEEP Project Implementation; Example Projects– DWQ Existing Monitoring Data ReviewDWQ Existing Monitoring Data Review

BreakBreak– Stakeholder Group – Goals/ObjectivesStakeholder Group – Goals/Objectives– Watershed Issues (Part I)Watershed Issues (Part I)– Meeting ParticularsMeeting Particulars– Questions? Next Meeting Time/Place; AdjournmentQuestions? Next Meeting Time/Place; Adjournment

Group “Charter”Group “Charter” Stakeholder Stakeholder GOALsGOALs

– What do What do YOUYOU want to get out of this process? want to get out of this process?– Short-term (next ~18 months) goals; group ‘functions’Short-term (next ~18 months) goals; group ‘functions’– Probably premature to develop longer range goals (>2 yrs) Probably premature to develop longer range goals (>2 yrs)

and group Mission Statement – wait at least until Phase I and group Mission Statement – wait at least until Phase I complete… complete…

– Need first to better define and prioritize watershed Need first to better define and prioritize watershed problems/stressors problems/stressors

NameName of the Stakeholder Group of the Stakeholder Group– Local Advisory Team (LAT); Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)?Local Advisory Team (LAT); Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)?

Chairperson…?Chairperson…?– Typically, not designated until later in the Planning process Typically, not designated until later in the Planning process

(Phase IV: implementation of Final Plan (Phase IV: implementation of Final Plan recommendations)recommendations)

Stakeholder Roles/ObjectivesStakeholder Roles/Objectives Typically, these includeTypically, these include

– Hear watershed study results & recommendations Hear watershed study results & recommendations from EEP from EEP

– Help identify local watershed issues and priorities Help identify local watershed issues and priorities – Help EEP to identify a good Help EEP to identify a good demonstration projectdemonstration project– Help identify priority sub-watersheds Help identify priority sub-watersheds – Provide input (comments & recommendations) to Provide input (comments & recommendations) to

LWP products/documentsLWP products/documentsProject AtlasProject AtlasWatershed Management PlanWatershed Management Plan

Stakeholder Roles/Objectives Stakeholder Roles/Objectives (cont’d.)(cont’d.)

– Help EEP identify & rank the best project sites w/ Help EEP identify & rank the best project sites w/ willing landownerswilling landowners

– Act as ‘bridge’ to local landownersAct as ‘bridge’ to local landowners– Phase IV: Use final Phase IV: Use final Project AtlasProject Atlas and and Watershed Watershed

Management PlanManagement Plan to help leverage funding for to help leverage funding for local projects that are local projects that are notnot EEP-fundable EEP-fundable

Restoration & Preservation projects that Restoration & Preservation projects that don’t meet EEP criteria/needs don’t meet EEP criteria/needs

Stand-alone storm water BMPsStand-alone storm water BMPs Watershed education initiativesWatershed education initiatives

Other Stakeholder Objectives?Other Stakeholder Objectives?Short-term Short-term (next 12 to 18 months)(next 12 to 18 months)

– Presentation topics at future meetings?Presentation topics at future meetings?– Invite others (e.g., interested landowners) to meetings?Invite others (e.g., interested landowners) to meetings?– Public meeting(s) – e.g., present Public meeting(s) – e.g., present

findings/recommendations to local officials?findings/recommendations to local officials?– Specific local watershed initiatives/plans (e.g., Specific local watershed initiatives/plans (e.g.,

greenways, storm water planning) you want to see greenways, storm water planning) you want to see supported by this process? Grant funding supported by this process? Grant funding opportunities…?opportunities…?

Habitat & WQ Habitat & WQ ImprovementImprovement

Mitigate Future Mitigate Future DOT ImpactsDOT Impacts

*Community *Community Priorities*Priorities*

The best The best projectsprojects

EEP Local Watershed Planning GOALEEP Local Watershed Planning GOAL

Local PrioritiesLocal Priorities (Post-It Notes, Part I)(Post-It Notes, Part I)

What do you see What do you see as the most as the most important local important local watershed watershed issues issues affecting the affecting the LWP Study LWP Study Area?Area?

~ 34 mi2

75 mi2

~ 5 mi2

Priority Watershed IssuesPriority Watershed Issues ((Part I)Part I) WhatWhat are the major watershed are the major watershed

problemsproblems (things that need ‘fixing’)?(things that need ‘fixing’)?– Localized ‘hot spots’Localized ‘hot spots’– Watershed-wideWatershed-wide– Collapsing stream banks; degraded riparian Collapsing stream banks; degraded riparian

buffer zones; cattle/livestock access; storm buffer zones; cattle/livestock access; storm water drainage/flooding issues; incised channels; water drainage/flooding issues; incised channels; ditched wetlands; serious erosion/sedimentation; ditched wetlands; serious erosion/sedimentation; straight-piping problems; etc. straight-piping problems; etc.

WhatWhat & & wherewhere are current watershed are current watershed assetsassets (e.g., headwater or riparian parcels worthy of (e.g., headwater or riparian parcels worthy of protection)?protection)?

What are What are local barriers/constraintslocal barriers/constraints to to restoring or protecting watershed restoring or protecting watershed resources?resources?

OrganizeOrganize the Key Watershed Issues the Key Watershed Issues(Post-It Notes exercise: Part II)(Post-It Notes exercise: Part II)

Next Meeting?Next Meeting?– Group (sort & classify) the watershed issuesGroup (sort & classify) the watershed issues

E.g., watershed-wide vs. specific sub-E.g., watershed-wide vs. specific sub-HUsHUs

– Then Then prioritizeprioritize (place in rank order) (place in rank order)Most urgent vs. ‘secondary’Most urgent vs. ‘secondary’

Meeting ParticularsMeeting Particulars

Meeting Summaries, Action ItemsMeeting Summaries, Action Items – – to beto be sent out within 2 weeks after each sent out within 2 weeks after each meetingmeeting

Meeting AgendasMeeting Agendas – – 1 to 2 weeks in 1 to 2 weeks in advance; input welcomeadvance; input welcome

Meeting Frequency Meeting Frequency - - dates/times dates/times and location(s) and location(s) – What days/times work best?What days/times work best?– Is this facility convenient for folks, and consistently Is this facility convenient for folks, and consistently

available? available?

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS?QUESTIONS/COMMENTS?

Next Meeting Time/Location?Next Meeting Time/Location?– JuneJune:: present present Preliminary Findings & Preliminary Findings &

RecommendationsRecommendations (Phase I) (Phase I)

THANKSTHANKS VERY MUCHVERY MUCH FOR YOUR FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION…PARTICIPATION…

NC EEP ContactsNC EEP Contacts Mike Herrmann, Mike Herrmann, Central Watershed PlannerCentral Watershed Planner

(919) 715-5458(919) 715-5458 michael.herrmann@ncmail.netmichael.herrmann@ncmail.net

Hal Bryson, Hal Bryson, Western Watershed PlannerWestern Watershed Planner

(828) 268-2919(828) 268-2919 hal.bryson@ncmail.nethal.bryson@ncmail.net

Paul Wiesner, Paul Wiesner, Project ImplementationProject Implementation

(828) 273-1673(828) 273-1673 paul.wiesner@ncmail.netpaul.wiesner@ncmail.net

Ecosystem Enhancement Program Ecosystem Enhancement Program websitewebsite

http://www.nceep.net/http://www.nceep.net/