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Section IV ]
IV.
STEWARDSHIP AND EDUCATION ACTION ITEMS
Goal:
To educate citizens about the boundaries and functions
of the Norwalk River Watershed, the specific needs for
protection of and improvement to the river
system,
the benefits of a healthy watershed to individuals and
communities, and
the opportunity for the public to speak out on issues,
and to participate in the
stewardship of the watershed
Objective
1: Develop a mechanism to monitor "The
Plan," implement such a mechanism,
and foster watershed stewardship.
Objective
2: Develop methods to provide information and
education about the Norwalk
River Watershed.
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Objective
1: Develop a mechanism to monitor "The
Plan," implement such a mechanism, and foster
watershed stewardship.
Introductory
Statement:
The
implementation of this Action Plan needs to be a coordinated,
locally-based, watershed-wide activity that continues
the work of the Initiative. The development of a watershed
advisory committee made up of representatives from each
municipality, ensures the plan will be implemented.
A coordinator is necessary to follow through with the
focus of the advisory committee.
Supporting
Tasks:
1.
Assemble an "Advisory Committee" to include
representatives from the local governments of
each
of the seven watershed towns and representatives from
regional, state, federal, and local environmental
organizations.
- Implementing
Group: Initiative Committee
- Year
Start/End: 1998-ongoing
- Measure
of Success: Advisory Committee established.
2.
Hire part-time "Watershed Action Plan Coordinator(s),"
as a facilitator responsible to the above
advisory committee.
- Implementing
Group: Advisory Committee
- Year
Start/End: 1999-ongoing
- Measure
of Success: Position filled. Plan action items start
to be implemented. Focus of
Advisory Committee maintained.
3.
Hold bi-annual workshop of Chief Elected Officials to
maintain support of plan implementation.
- Implementing
Group: Advisory Committee
- Year
Start: 2000-ongoing
- Measure
of Success: Plan implementation continues with official
support of all watershed
towns.
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Objective
2: Develop methods to provide information and education
about the Norwalk
River Watershed.
Introductory
Statement:
Citizens,
school systems and municipal decisionmakers need to
understand the functions of the Norwalk River Watershed
system. Information and education needs to be continuous
and to become a permanent way of doing business.
Supporting
Tasks:
1.
Develop a pamphlet/brochure about the boundaries and
functions of the Norwalk River Watershed,
with a focus on "what a watershed does for you,"
and its relation to the public drinking
water supply.
- Implementing
Group: Initiative Committee, Advisory Committee
- Year
Start/End: 1998-1999
- Measure
of Success: Brochure published.
2.
Conduct watershed education assessment survey. Compile
and distribute results to participants,
Boards of Education and appropriate town agencies.
- Implementing
Group: Initiative Committee
- Year
Start/End: Completed
- Measure
of Success: Watershed schools furnished with summary
information that provides
an overview of watershed-related education.
3.
Organize meeting of teachers/educators to share ideas
about watershed education (1/2 day workshop
with presentations and informal gatherings). Share classroom
activities.
- Implementing
Group: Advisory Committee, Watershed Coordinator(s)
- Year
Start/End: Spring 1999
- Measure
of Success: Meetings held with watershed educators.
4.
Establish yearly meetings of teachers/educators (similar
to above). Investigate Continuing Education
Credits.
- Implementing
Group: Watershed Coordinator(s), Advisory Committee
- Year
Start/End: 2001
- Measure
of Success: Working groups established. Plan developed.
5.
Establish environmental education working group of teachers/educators
to share existing watershed
curriculum and develop new ideas to teach watershed
education.
- Implementing
Group: Watershed Coordinator(s), Advisory Committee,
6-Town River Board
- Year
Start/End: 2000-2004
- Measure
of Success: Education working groups established.
6.
Develop "tool kits" of watershed activities,
with videos demonstrating their use.
- Implementing
Group: Watershed Coordinator(s), Advisory Committee
- Year
Start/End: 1999-ongoing
- Measure
of Success: Tool kits completed.
7.
Develop watershed-based outreach program to disseminate
stewardship message and provide knowledge
of the watershed, its boundaries, and the functions
and values of its resources. Actions
for consideration of the Advisory Committee include,
but are not limited to:
-
School competitions
- Watershed Awareness Day
- Information kiosks throughout the basin
- Develop a web site for the basin with links to towns
and other stakeholders
- Develop a regular column about the watershed and
its resources in the watershed newspapers
- Develop a video library of natural resource information.
- Implementing
Group: Watershed Coordinator(s), Advisory Committee,
Private Conservation
and Civic Community Organizations
- Year
Start/End: Ongoing. Priorities set by Advisory Committee
and availability of groups.
- Measure
of Success: Increased watershed activities regarding
watershed awareness.
8.
Write a detailed history of the basin.
- Implementing
Group: Advisory Committee
- Year
Start/End: 2001
- Measure
of Success: History written.
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