Transcript Moab Area Watershed Planning

Moab Area
Watershed Planning
Watershed map
(Possible) Outcomes of this Process
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Better information sharing between management entities
Coordinated watershed management over agency lines (to the degree
possible given differing laws)
A better understanding of local water use patterns
Coordinated advocacy for local water needs (such as funds for studies
or coordinating development with San Juan County)
Access to funding and information resources from the state and federal
government
Longer-term:
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We are better able to cope with growth and drought
We keep high-quality drinking water
Improve riparian conditions and ensure groundwater recharge
Preserve local agriculture and wildlife habitat
Ensure a high quality of life for us all!
Steps
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1. Create a Watershed Council
2. Get Funding for the Planning Process
3. Write a Watershed Plan
4. Implement Plan
5. Be A Watershed Council for the Long Term
STEP ONE:
FORMING A WATERSHED COUNCIL
FEDERAL AGENCIES
Bureau of Land Management
US Forest Service
National Park Service
US Geological Survey
STATE AGENCIES
Division of Water Quality
SITLA
Div. Of Water Rights (consulting)
Div. Of Wildlife Resources (consulting)
USU Extension
LOCAL ENTITIES
Grand County  City of Moab
Castle Valley Town  Grand Water and
Sewer
Grand Conservation District
Moab Irrigation Company
Weed District  San Juan County
OTHER POSSIBLE STAKEHOLDERS
(appoint one representative from each?)
Ranchers/ Feed Growers
Food Growers (non-ranching)
Conservation Groups
Restoration/Revegetation Experts
Forming a council, Part 2
• Entities decide to participate, and:
• Appoint a representative and alternate
• Commit to meeting attendance and prep
• Agree to sign letters of support for grant
applications
Part 3: Establish Governance
• Quorum
• Vote transmission/ documentation
• Meeting rules (parliamentary procedure,
etc.)
• Requirements for accepting new voting
entities
• Public meetings?
• Meeting structure
Part 4: Communications
• Create an email listserv/mailing list
• Website (perhaps as part of the
planning outreach process rather than
immediately)
Part 4: Grant Application Support
• Write grant applications for June through
August
• All entities agree to review grant application
and submit any concerns in a timely fashion,
as well as write letters of support
• Assign local fund-managing entity
STEP TWO
SECURING FUNDING
FOR THE PLANNING
PROCESS
upcoming funding cycles
2010:
June 3rd: Non-pt-source (NPS) AND 319 preproposals due
June 17th: Request from DWQ for full proposals
June 30th: State Revolving Fund (SRF) full
applications due
July: SRF applications accepted or denied
August: SRF funds disbursed
August 2nd: Full 319 and NPS proposals due
2011:
April: 319 Funds Dispersed
2013:
Moab area possibly eligible for intensive funding
STEP THREE
WRITING THE WATERSHED PLAN
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Plan Contents
Vary depending on local needs
Based on EPA guidelines to qualify for 319
funds
Assess existing conditions, both on the
ground and regulatory/administrative
Identify existing problems and likely threats to
water supply/quality and watershed health
Identify high-priority projects for future
implementation
Plan components
• Description of existing physical, administrative, economic and
social conditions
• “Water Audit”
• Review of scientific literature and locally based studies to
identify major issues, including identification of information gaps
• Review of regulatory aids and barriers to water supply and
watershed health
• Recommended approaches/projects to ameliorate concerns and
conditions
• Appendices: major library of maps, reports, studies and
regulatory documents relating to watershed management and
condition--available on website?
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PLANNING PROCESS
Based on collaboration and information-sharing
between agencies/entities
Will likely require new consultant reports and/or
studies
Will involve a public outreach and education
component
Will be designed to mesh with existing planning
documents and processes to the greatest degree
possible, especially
– USFS Forest Planning process/Moab Face projects
– Bureau of Land Management municipal watershed planning
requirement
– County General Plan Revision
– San Juan County lands bill process (if ongoing)
STEP FOUR
ENSURING WATERSHED HEALTH
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PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
Advocate for the adoption of watershed plan
components into individual entity guidance
(Forest Plan, General Plan, etc.)
Secure funding to implement recommended
projects, oversee
Advocate for the completion of necessary
studies
Conduct ongoing public outreach and
education component
ONGOING ROLE OF WATERSHED COUNCIL
• Varies according to needs of community
• Oversees implementation of Watershed Plan
• Possible models:
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Other watershed councils
Trail Mix
Planning Commission
Conservation District
GETTING STARTED
• Respond with participation commitment
by Thursday, March 27th
• I’ll send out official announcement by
June 1st
• Participants prepare to review draft of
SRF grant application and send
comments
• Set date of next meeting (to discuss
grant application and sign off by June
25th