COMMUNITY BASED PLANNING For Carter Lake Watershed October 5, 2006 Presented by Steve Tonn University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator Douglas/Sarpy Counties

COMMUNITY BASED PLANNING Community Based Planning is a voluntary, locally led planning process that involves social, economic, and environmental concerns over a defined geographic area (such as a watershed).

COMMUNITY BASED PLANNING The desired outcome is a comprehensive Management Plan that is Fully Implemented

GOALS OF THE PLANNING PROCESS To get stakeholder involvement! To include the appropriate ecological, economic, and social factors. To maintain and enhance the quality of the environment. START Now, let’s define the NRCS Conservation Planning process again. You may recall that this was defined in the module on Desired Future Conditions. An approach to assistance that integrates the appropriate ecological, economic, and social factors through the planning process in order to maintain and enhance the quality of the environment to best meet the client’s and society’s current and future needs. Go to Slide 39

WATERSHED PLANNING Forms partnerships between stakeholder groups and technical resource specialists. Minimizes conflict. Emphasizes desired future conditions. Improves natural resource management.

STAKEHOLDERS Represent an individual or group. Serve as decision makers. Have an interest in or will be impacted by actions of the plan. 11

WATERSHED ADVISORY COUNCIL Small group (usually 5-12) of individuals who represent the various stakeholders. Serve as decision makers in drafting a management plan for all the stakeholders to review and approve. 11

TECHNICAL TEAM Technical Resource Specialists Work together with Watershed Advisory Council (WAC) Provide resource information to WAC on conditions and possible solutions 11

COMMUNITY BASED PLANNING Key Components- 1. A Common Vision of Desired Conditions 2. Identification and Prioritization of Concerns 3. Development and Implementation of Appropriate Steps to Adequately Address

COMMUNITY BASED PLANNING PROCESS 3 PHASES: Phase I - Know Your Area Phase II - Decision Making Phase III - Plan Implementation

Phase I: Know Your Area Inventory Resources Analyze Identify Resource Determine Objectives Identify Problems Analyze Resource Data Inventory Resources 15

Phase II: Decision Making Formulate Alternatives Evaluate Alternatives Make Decisions 15

Phase III: Plan Implementation Evaluate Plan 15

COMMUNITY BASED PLANNING 3 KEY BENEFITS: * Community and stakeholders are much more informed about what is happening! * Stakeholders are actively involved in the decisions made and implementation of the plan will happen at a much higher rate! * Projects completed are more successful!

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Douglas/Sarpy Counties Steve Tonn Extension Educator University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Douglas/Sarpy Counties Omaha, NE TEL: 402-444-4237 EMAIL: stonn2@unl.edu