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Watershed Management for Long Term Sustainability
What Drives a Watershed Group?
Maryann McGraw - NMED~SWQB
Excerpt from Program:
"Maryann will discuss what drives a community to maintain and stay involved in a watershed group. It may be the same types of things that holds a community together in the first place, a sense of belonging and a strong relationship to the landscape in which they live. First, members of a community must be aware of their reliance on their local water resources, and that local control and protection of the resource base and the environment is a necessity for achievement of a sustainable community. Every community is located within a watershed. Within the watershed are key elements that need special protection from degradation, including stream and drainage corridors, floodplains, lakes and ponds, springs and wetlands, and ground water aquifers and their recharge areas. People come together when they perceive there is a common cause that holds their attention. It needs to be at least as important as other things in their lives or it has to affect their livelihood for people to get involved. The work of a watershed group is vital to the welfare of the community and the environment and those that stay involved truly believe in the importance of their contribution. In the arid Southwest where water resources are limited, water has everything to do with our ability and that of our children's children to live and work in any place in New Mexico.
"In the practical sense, there are concrete elements that help maintain continuity and involvement in watershed efforts. The glue that holds a successful watershed organization together is composed of the following ingredients: 1. Strong, committed leadership. 2. A sense of place -- a home for the organization. 3. Involvement and ownership by local stakeholders. 4. A comprehensive long-range plan of action. 5. A watchdog commitment to monitoring and management in perpetuity. 6. Money and time committed to proposed projects."
Presentation Outline:
Maryann McGraw - NMED~SWQB
Excerpt from Program:
"Maryann will discuss what drives a community to maintain and stay involved in a watershed group. It may be the same types of things that holds a community together in the first place, a sense of belonging and a strong relationship to the landscape in which they live. First, members of a community must be aware of their reliance on their local water resources, and that local control and protection of the resource base and the environment is a necessity for achievement of a sustainable community. Every community is located within a watershed. Within the watershed are key elements that need special protection from degradation, including stream and drainage corridors, floodplains, lakes and ponds, springs and wetlands, and ground water aquifers and their recharge areas. People come together when they perceive there is a common cause that holds their attention. It needs to be at least as important as other things in their lives or it has to affect their livelihood for people to get involved. The work of a watershed group is vital to the welfare of the community and the environment and those that stay involved truly believe in the importance of their contribution. In the arid Southwest where water resources are limited, water has everything to do with our ability and that of our children's children to live and work in any place in New Mexico.
"In the practical sense, there are concrete elements that help maintain continuity and involvement in watershed efforts. The glue that holds a successful watershed organization together is composed of the following ingredients: 1. Strong, committed leadership. 2. A sense of place -- a home for the organization. 3. Involvement and ownership by local stakeholders. 4. A comprehensive long-range plan of action. 5. A watchdog commitment to monitoring and management in perpetuity. 6. Money and time committed to proposed projects."
Presentation Outline:
- How Long has the Watershed Concept Been Around?
- Community Member Involvement
- Community Motivation
- Every Community is Located within a Watershed!
- Top Ten Watershed Lessons Learned
- How Long Has the Watershed Concept Been Around?
- Pitfalls
Watershed Management for Long Term Sustainability Presentation pdf size: 2.36mb
Watershed Management Text pdf size: 0.02mb