|
An
integral part of achieving the vision of a healthier
Norwalk River Watershed is developing specific actions
that focus on restoring and preserving this watershed.
These actions provide a unifying "blueprint" of the
activities needed to realize the vision statement of
the NRWIC. In these pages, the Committee provides a
map for the watershed community to follow. Participants
implementing the plan can take on discrete projects
knowing that each activity undertaken will bring the
watershed closer to achieving the vision of the Action
Plan. It is hoped that partnerships are formed whenever
possible to implement these tasks.
The
Norwalk River Watershed Action Plan consists of goals
with corresponding objectives and an identification
of tasks to support the objectives. The following pages
outline each of the broad goals with its corresponding
objectives followed by the supporting tasks. To better
communicate the intent and relevance of the objective,
an introductory statement has been provided to add clarity.
Supporting tasks are listed with information to guide
the reader in understanding the path of implementation.
The entity likely to be responsible for executing the
task is identified.
The
Plan of Action is not to be viewed as an assignment
for any one party, but rather a community-wide effort
transcending municipal boundaries and traditional jurisdictions.
Under some tasks, a date of anticipated commencement
and completion is also provided. In some instances the
dates are selected based on logical progression of tasks
and others are simply target dates to be pushed up or
back as opportunities arise. Lastly, a means to measure
success is stated. Measuring the success of each task
is important to communicate to the public the progress
the Norwalk River Watershed Action Plan, to enable participants
in the plan and others to learn from the accomplishments
and failures, and to provide personal satisfaction that
comes from a completed job. Documenting results is as
much an organizational tool as it is a measure of success.
It is the intent of the NRWIC that this plan be revisited
at various time periods so as to reassess time frames
and measure success.
How
to Read These Web Pages
Format:
These action items are organized into four parts, each
corresponding to specific subcommittees. Within each
part you will find the goals of the subcommittees, the
objectives to implement the goals, and the supporting
tasks to reach the objectives. Each task is outlined
in the same way:
-
Implementing
Group: These are leads or sponsors for the task
(see naming conventions). In those cases where the
tasks are being implemented, more specificity as
to the implementer is given. It is important to
note that the names are not an absolute assignment.
All potential implementers from the community are
actively encouraged to help implement the plan.
Partnerships should be encouraged every step of
the way.
-
Time
Frame: This is a potential start and end date. It
also represents an implied priority.
-
Measure
of Success: This represents how the community will
be able to determine if the task has been implemented
successfully.
Naming
Conventions: The Norwalk River Watershed Initiative
Committee gave a tremendous amount of thought on how
to be specific enough to point the way for implementers
to act, while allowing for community entities to participate
in implementing the plan. Naming conventions represent
those who might be leads or sponsors for an activity
and be responsible for its resolution. In doing so,
it is expected that those leads or sponsors would ask
for assistance from the community to come forth and
implement. The naming conventions fall under general
headings. However, under these headings, it is understood
that the more specific leads would be identified by
the Advisory Committee. It is anticipated that this
convention will cover all potential participants in
the future without excluding any. The naming conventions
are as follows:
-
Municipalities
(i.e. planning and zoning, wetlands, conservation,
public works, public health)
-
Regional
Agencies (i.e. regional planning organizations,
Fairfield County Soil and Water Conservation District,
Westchester County Planning Department)
-
Private
Conservation and Civic Community Organizations (i.e.
Norwalk River Watershed Association, Save the Sound,
Trout Unlimited, the Nature Center for Environmental
Activities, League of Women Voters, garden clubs,
etc.)
-
State
Agencies (i.e., CTDEP, CONNDOT, NYDEC)
-
Federal
Agencies (i.e., USDA-NRCS, EPA, USFWS, USGS, ACOE)
-
Watershed
Coordinator(s) (will work at the direction of the
Watershed Advisory Committee)
-
Watershed
Advisory Committee (representatives from each municipal
government, state, federal, and regional agencies,
private conservation and civic community organizations),
business and industry).
Thank
you for reading the introduction. We continue now to:
The NRWI Action Plan
|
