Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition
We inspire Southeast Alaskan’s and support community organizations working towards the
wise management of our watersheds
Objectives
Introduce the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition
Build Awareness of CBWM and how SAWC builds capacity throughout the region for CBWM
Highlight the need for your participation and information in order to build a network of rural communities taking collective action
Encourage collaboration and partnership
A broad-based alliance operating “formally” since 2009.
As a network SAWC works together strategically to bring about efficiency, effectiveness, capacity, learning and impact that is greater than any single organization could achieve on its own
Founding Member Groups
Advisory Council
Takshanuk Watershed Council, Haines AK
Yakutat Salmon Board, City and Borough of Yakutat
Taiya Inlet Watershed Council, Skagway AK
Juneau Watershed Partnership, Juneau AK
Samia Savell: USDA- NRCS
Brock Tabor: DEC
Ben Kirkpatrick: Retired ADF&G Habitat Biologist
Cathy Needham: Kai Environmental
Ed Neil: USGS
Kathleen Dowd-Gailey: National Forest Foundation
Goal
SE Alaska is a place where a network of community-based watershed efforts is achieving informed
management of the resources
Top Down Approach
or
Local citizens guide
watershed planning and developing
Community-Based Watershed
Management
Legislative - regulatory - judicial
management
Federal and State
Government agencies
Local government
Land Owners
Federal, State , local regulatory agencies and influential stakeholders
Communities are informed of decisions and are
enforced to follow laws, regulations, and pollution
standards
Tribal Government
Local Stakeholders: including
youth
Local and regional Businesses and organizations
Industry
Alaska Native Corporations
Why Community-Based Watershed Management?
The health of our communities and economies depend on the health of our watersheds.
The concerns of the community and the benefits derived from the opportunities within our watersheds should be central to natural resources and land management planning and decision making.
Sharing knowledge and resources
Building local economies
Building a regional voice for Community Based Watershed Management
Services
SAWC organizes trainings and resources
SAWC provides strategic planning, organizational development, and project planning
SAWC promotes management strategies and develops programs that support CBWM regionally and state-wide
• Watershed Planning
• In Lieu Fee Aquatic Resource Mitigation Program
Services Regional Voice
Phase 1Phase 2
Communities without an organized
watershed group
Communities with an organized watershed
effort
Local Capacity Building:OutreachEngagementFacilitation
Governance structure
Strategic planWatershed Planning
Regional Capacity Building:Provide informationProvide servicesSet common goals and strategiesInfluence policy and management strategies
Challenges
Participation to build a regional voice
Creating measurable outcomes, goals
Operating in an ever changing environment
Capacity: Funding and Partnership
Collective Impact does not happen over night
A network of organizations working in coordination is far more capable of building the collective voice and power needed to bring about fundamental, long-term changes in communities.
By joining a network, we will be better able to generate the numbers that we need to bring about systemic change and policy change that supports are rural and isolated communities to sustainably develop
Call Action:
look into watershed isssues in your community concerns, threats, opportunities
Be aware of what is going on
Obviously you are here because it is important- being aware of what is going on in your community so development happens away that takes into consideration
Examples: of community of hydaburg
POW watershed association
Get involved
Visit SAWCs website
Agencies, funders: projects, talk with us your concerns,
Go to website and sign up: send information:
We want to provide a voice for local communities
Find out landowners, community watersheds
Is there a watershed plan
Is there a comprehensive plan
Engage the agencies, outside groups working Capacity:
Increase strategy in delivery of community-based messages and services:
Increase information accessibility for communities
Increase awareness of presence of virtual place for the network to function
Build strategy for communication
Increase communication and collaboration between agencies, policy makers and communities
Presence of environmental policy that supports CBWM
Increase in (flexible) funding that support CBWM
Provide relevant and meaningful information and resources necessary to carry out community-based watershed efforts and projects.
Facilitate communication with technical experts, environmental consultants and other watershed practitioners to support and enhance community-based/regional projects.
Highlight community-based work on the Coalition’s website
Collaborate to develop grants and regional projects that support watershed initiatives in individual communities and regionally, if applicable.
Facilitate teleconference calls that enable communities, scientists, organization and project leaders, and natural resource agencies to discuss watershed issues and projects.
Raise funds and/or partner to provide trainings, tools and resources on community-based watershed management issues and projects to the region and to individual communities.
Promote on a regional, state and federal level for resources and funding to be allocated to community-based natural resource management efforts and partnerships in Alaska.
Act as a regional and state lieason for community watershed efforts