Basin Ed & Outreach Goals, Objectives & Strategies

BASIN EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
Problem Statement, Goals, Objectives and Strategies

Problem Statement

Most residents of the Raritan Basin seem to support water quality and water supply issues. However, surveys indicate that they are not familiar with fundamental water resource facts, other critical issues of watershed management and the impacts that many of their activities have on our water resources. Efforts by local municipalities, government agencies and environmental groups to inform and involve the public have not been coordinated and are currently insufficient. Materials and methods are needed for public education that are available, effective and sufficient. Many stakeholder participants indicate that they are not comfortable with their current knowledge of watershed management techniques and therefore cannot be as effective participants as they would like. Further, most participants feel strongly that additional public participation is necessary in the planning process.

Goal Objective Strategy

RBEO-G1 - Residents, landowners and businesses who are educated and informed about the basic aspects of water resources and critical watershed management issues in the Raritan River Basin and are moved to help solve these issues
RBEO-O1A – By 2010, 50% of Raritan Basin residents understand the critical water resources and watershed issues in the Basin RBEO-S1A1 (22) - Ensure that stakeholder groups understand the critical issues that affect them.

RBEO-S1A2 (12) - Improve education of residential communities through library-based information, news media, neighborhood meeting presentations and other similar opportunities to reach larger groups of people through low-cost approaches.

RBEO-S1A3 (3)- Develop tool kits for target groups (e.g., educators, farmers, businesses) that contain materials specific to the needs of each group that will build community awareness, appreciation and understanding of the watershed and its importance with stakeholders.

RBEO-S1A4 (9)- Implement a media campaign to generate awareness of critical water resources issues in the Basin.

RBEO-S1A5 (16) - Improve education of students (and through them, their parents) about water and Raritan Basin issues through increased training of teachers using existing programs (e.g., Project WET, NJ Audubon Society’s WATERS curriculum, teacher training programs offered by watershed associations) and additional programs as the need is identified.

RBEO-O1B – Raritan Basin residents, both in general and within specific interests such as schools, business, environmental, government, agricultural, recreational and landowners, understand basic water resource issues and are able to apply the concepts in their lives RBEO-S1B1 (2)- Improve education of business, commercial and major landowners through expansion of existing programs of educational and outreach organizations (e.g., Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 4-H, watershed associations, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil Conservation Districts) and additional programs as the need is identified. Encourage business, commercial and major landowners to implement watershed stewardship and ‘good housekeeping’ practices.

RBEO-S1B2 (6)- Improve education of residents and homeowners (especially those within or near riparian areas and significant ground water recharge areas) through replication and expansion of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association’s River Friendly Resident program or other similar programs. Encourage residents and homeowners to take personal actions beneficial to the watershed.

RBEO-S1B3 (9) - Improve education of municipal officials (elected and appointed) through direct presentations, presentations at conferences/conventions, education of those the officials rely upon for information (e.g., municipal staff and volunteers). Use Basin strategy RB-S5.

RBEO-S1B4 (12) - Improve education of a variety of stakeholders through the use of demonstration sites and examples regarding property landscaping and maintenance, stormwater management, septic system management, etc., that focus on the key land management needs of each category of stakeholders.

RBEO-O1C – During Plan implementation, organizations providing watershed-related education programs shall be aware of opportunities to coordinate their efforts to maximize educational benefits RBEO-S1C1 (7)- Evaluate the status of environmental education programs and activities in the Basin. Status shall be re-evaluated every 2 years thereafter.

RBEO-S1C2 (11)- Develop and implement a mechanism to ensure communication and coordination among all groups involved in watershed education in the WMA.

RBEO-G2 - Stakeholder participants are thoroughly educated and informed about Raritan Basin issues and watershed management techniques RBEO-O2A – Stakeholder participants involved in Plan implementation thoroughly understand Raritan Basin issues and watershed management techniques.
RBEO-S2A1 (12) - Develop and implement educational programs and activities that address the needs of stakeholder participants in the Raritan Basin. Participants will have a better understanding of the watershed management issues and techniques through various media channels, including news articles, web site, technical reports and educational programs.

(Action steps include: demonstration project, field trips, awareness of current issues/news articles, web site with tech reports and other information, etc.)

RBEO-O2B – Stakeholder participants involved in Plan implementation have a core competence in the application of watershed management techniques to Raritan Basin issues. RBEO-S2B1 (4) - Develop and implement training opportunities for stakeholder participants involved in plan implementation. This will include, but is not limited to workshops, demonstration projects, field trips, etc. (Action steps include field trips, demonstration projects, workshops, seminars, training calendar of other organization’s events).

RBEO-G3 -The population of the Raritan Basin supports implementation of the Raritan Basin Watershed Management Plan RBEO-O3A –Public support for watershed management activities is sufficient to ensure implementation of the Raritan Basin Watershed Management Plan RBEO-S3A1 (20) – Implement a campaign targeted to all key stakeholder interest groups that can influence plan implementation, to develop support and address concerns.

RBEO-S3A2 (12) – Implement a campaign to generate public and media support for plan implementation, including regular press releases and press contacts on key stories that help show the need for watershed management (same as Strategy 1a4 above)

RBEO-S3A3 (20) – Develop a support network for plan implementation through 1:1 contact with key decision makers and influential leaders in the community

RBEO-O3B – Sufficient public involvement exists to support a steady annual increase in the number of successful stakeholder-driven implementation projects RBEO-S3B1 (19) – Coordinate and promote participation in implementation projects that will interest a larger variety of stakeholders, resulting in their active involvement.

RBEO-S3B2 (7) – Expand opportunities for incentive-based involvement (e.g., college credits, high school service requirements, AmeriCorps, internships, corporate service days, corporate sponsorship)

RBEO-G4 - Government decision-makers of the Raritan Basin understand watershed management issues and tools, know the Raritan Basin Watershed Management Plan and its benefits, and support Plan implementation

RBEO-O4A – Municipal and county officials receive background training/education to support municipal and county planning and management actions that support the implementation of the watershed management plan. In addition, officials are knowledgeable regarding available tools and ordinances to implement the plan recommendations in their communities. RBEO-S4A1 (16) – Organizations and individuals that work with municipal officials will develop and implement a program to engage governments at all levels to implement all appropriate strategies and actions in their regulations, programs and activities.

RBEO-S4A2 (1) - Provide ordinance tools to municipalities and counties to assist in effective implementation of the plan strategies and actions. Use Basin strategy RB-S5.

RBEO-S4A3 (16) - Provide municipal training and information to assist in effective implementation of the plan strategies and actions. Use Basin strategy RB-S5.

RBEO-S4A4 (5)- Develop and implement a program that provides municipalities with the ability to use their master plans to implement watershed management plan recommendations. Use Basin strategy RB-S5.

Goal	Objective	Strategy
RBEO-G1 - Residents, landowners and businesses who are educated and informed about the basic aspects of water resources and critical watershed management issues in the Raritan River Basin and are moved to help solve these issues	RBEO-O1A – By 2010, 50% of Raritan Basin residents understand the critical water resources and watershed issues in the Basin	RBEO-S1A1 (22) - Ensure that stakeholder groups understand the critical issues that affect them.
		RBEO-S1A2 (12) - Improve education of residential communities through library-based information, news media, neighborhood meeting presentations and other similar opportunities to reach larger groups of people through low-cost approaches.
		RBEO-S1A3 (3)- Develop tool kits for target groups (e.g., educators, farmers, businesses) that contain materials specific to the needs of each group that will build community awareness, appreciation and understanding of the watershed and its importance with stakeholders.
		RBEO-S1A4 (9)- Implement a media campaign to generate awareness of critical water resources issues in the Basin.
		RBEO-S1A5 (16) - Improve education of students (and through them, their parents) about water and Raritan Basin issues through increased training of teachers using existing programs (e.g., Project WET, NJ Audubon Society’s WATERS curriculum, teacher training programs offered by watershed associations) and additional programs as the need is identified.
	RBEO-O1B – Raritan Basin residents, both in general and within specific interests such as schools, business, environmental, government, agricultural, recreational and landowners, understand basic water resource issues and are able to apply the concepts in their lives	RBEO-S1B1 (2)- Improve education of business, commercial and major landowners through expansion of existing programs of educational and outreach organizations (e.g., Rutgers Cooperative Extension, 4-H, watershed associations, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Soil Conservation Districts) and additional programs as the need is identified. Encourage business, commercial and major landowners to implement watershed stewardship and ‘good housekeeping’ practices.
		RBEO-S1B2 (6)- Improve education of residents and homeowners (especially those within or near riparian areas and significant ground water recharge areas) through replication and expansion of the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association’s River Friendly Resident program or other similar programs. Encourage residents and homeowners to take personal actions beneficial to the watershed.
		RBEO-S1B3 (9) - Improve education of municipal officials (elected and appointed) through direct presentations, presentations at conferences/conventions, education of those the officials rely upon for information (e.g., municipal staff and volunteers). Use Basin strategy RB-S5.
		RBEO-S1B4 (12) - Improve education of a variety of stakeholders through the use of demonstration sites and examples regarding property landscaping and maintenance, stormwater management, septic system management, etc., that focus on the key land management needs of each category of stakeholders.
	RBEO-O1C – During Plan implementation, organizations providing watershed-related education programs shall be aware of opportunities to coordinate their efforts to maximize educational benefits	RBEO-S1C1 (7)- Evaluate the status of environmental education programs and activities in the Basin. Status shall be re-evaluated every 2 years thereafter.
		RBEO-S1C2 (11)- Develop and implement a mechanism to ensure communication and coordination among all groups involved in watershed education in the WMA.
RBEO-G2 - Stakeholder participants are thoroughly educated and informed about Raritan Basin issues and watershed management techniques	RBEO-O2A – Stakeholder participants involved in Plan implementation thoroughly understand Raritan Basin issues and watershed management techniques.	RBEO-S2A1 (12) - Develop and implement educational programs and activities that address the needs of stakeholder participants in the Raritan Basin. Participants will have a better understanding of the watershed management issues and techniques through various media channels, including news articles, web site, technical reports and educational programs. (Action steps include: demonstration project, field trips, awareness of current issues/news articles, web site with tech reports and other information, etc.)
	RBEO-O2B – Stakeholder participants involved in Plan implementation have a core competence in the application of watershed management techniques to Raritan Basin issues.	RBEO-S2B1 (4) - Develop and implement training opportunities for stakeholder participants involved in plan implementation. This will include, but is not limited to workshops, demonstration projects, field trips, etc. (Action steps include field trips, demonstration projects, workshops, seminars, training calendar of other organization’s events).
RBEO-G3 -The population of the Raritan Basin supports implementation of the Raritan Basin Watershed Management Plan	RBEO-O3A –Public support for watershed management activities is sufficient to ensure implementation of the Raritan Basin Watershed Management Plan	RBEO-S3A1 (20) – Implement a campaign targeted to all key stakeholder interest groups that can influence plan implementation, to develop support and address concerns.
		RBEO-S3A2 (12) – Implement a campaign to generate public and media support for plan implementation, including regular press releases and press contacts on key stories that help show the need for watershed management (same as Strategy 1a4 above)
		RBEO-S3A3 (20) – Develop a support network for plan implementation through 1:1 contact with key decision makers and influential leaders in the community
	RBEO-O3B – Sufficient public involvement exists to support a steady annual increase in the number of successful stakeholder-driven implementation projects	RBEO-S3B1 (19) – Coordinate and promote participation in implementation projects that will interest a larger variety of stakeholders, resulting in their active involvement.
		RBEO-S3B2 (7) – Expand opportunities for incentive-based involvement (e.g., college credits, high school service requirements, AmeriCorps, internships, corporate service days, corporate sponsorship)
RBEO-G4 - Government decision-makers of the Raritan Basin understand watershed management issues and tools, know the Raritan Basin Watershed Management Plan and its benefits, and support Plan implementation	RBEO-O4A – Municipal and county officials receive background training/education to support municipal and county planning and management actions that support the implementation of the watershed management plan. In addition, officials are knowledgeable regarding available tools and ordinances to implement the plan recommendations in their communities.	RBEO-S4A1 (16) – Organizations and individuals that work with municipal officials will develop and implement a program to engage governments at all levels to implement all appropriate strategies and actions in their regulations, programs and activities.
		RBEO-S4A2 (1) - Provide ordinance tools to municipalities and counties to assist in effective implementation of the plan strategies and actions. Use Basin strategy RB-S5.
		RBEO-S4A3 (16) - Provide municipal training and information to assist in effective implementation of the plan strategies and actions. Use Basin strategy RB-S5.
		RBEO-S4A4 (5)- Develop and implement a program that provides municipalities with the ability to use their master plans to implement watershed management plan recommendations. Use Basin strategy RB-S5.