Building Relationships with the Forest Service for Successful Transportation Projects Caring for the Land and Serving People
Presentation Overview 1) The Forest Service –WYDOT Liaison Program 1) The Forest Service –WYDOT Liaison Program 2) Forest Service 101 2) Forest Service 101 3) Federal Land Transfer & Land Use on National 3) Federal Land Transfer & Land Use on National Forests Forests 4) Success Stories - Relationships Create Opportunities. 4) Success Stories - Relationships Create Opportunities.
1)The Forest Service WYDOT 1)The Forest Service and WYDOT
Relationships and Problem Solving Wyoming Style (Past)
What Ailed Us - How Did We Get Here? Long time without working together Long time without working together Low level of trust & cooperation Low level of trust & cooperation Poor communication Poor communication Cultural differences and misunderstanding Cultural differences and misunderstanding Disagreement on roles and responsibilities Disagreement on roles and responsibilities Conflict produced stalemate instead of solutions Conflict produced stalemate instead of solutions
1) Liaison PPT
2) Forest Service 101
3) Federal Land Transfer and Land Use
Appreciative Inquiry - Ask one another, What are we doing well in our relationship or in this process together? How can we do more of that? Ask one another, What are we doing well in our relationship or in this process together? How can we do more of that? Do more of that. Do more of that.
Naming Elephants - Identify the elephants (undiscussables) that are in the room (i.e., in the relationship or the process). Identify the elephants (undiscussables) that are in the room (i.e., in the relationship or the process). Figure out how to deal with and overcome them. Figure out how to deal with and overcome them.
Change the Dynamic AB From... To... A B Interests Interest vs. Positional Negotiation
Whats Changed? Significant investment in our relationship Significant investment in our relationship Improved understanding & communication Improved understanding & communication Liaisons link agencies Liaisons link agencies Paradigm shift to collaborative ethic Paradigm shift to collaborative ethic Interest-based approach to conflict resolution rather than position-based Interest-based approach to conflict resolution rather than position-based Greater trust & integration in projects Greater trust & integration in projects
FS/WYDOT Success Stories: Cooperative work creates snowball effect Cooperative work creates snowball effect Mutual support ( e.g., NGO relationships) Mutual support ( e.g., NGO relationships) Greater understanding & willingness to listen (e.g., help us understand connectivity) Greater understanding & willingness to listen (e.g., help us understand connectivity) Project collaboration (e.g., road design & project input, wildlife connectivity, crossing structures) Project collaboration (e.g., road design & project input, wildlife connectivity, crossing structures) Integration of Training Integration of Training Renewal of Liaison program agreements Renewal of Liaison program agreements
4) Success Stories PPT
In Summary, Interagency Effectiveness is achieved thru … Communication Communication Relationships Relationships Process Process
Help – our relationship is out of control!! Quick, somebody hire a Liaison! Quick, somebody hire a Liaison!
Steady. Were all in this together.
USFS / WYDOT Liaison Contact Info: Rick Clark Rick Clark Office: (307) Office: (307) Darin Martens Darin Martens Office: (307) Office: (307)