urban waters federal partnerships by alice ewen and roy simon
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Urban Waters Federal Partnerships by Alice Ewen and Roy Simon at 2012 National Environmental Justice ConferenceTRANSCRIPT
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Urban Waters Federal Partnership
A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE
National Environmental Justice Conference
April 13, 2012
Vision◦ “Through our partnership, we will revitalize
urban waters and the communities that surround them, transforming overlooked assets into treasured centerpieces and drivers of urban revival.”
Mission & Principles focus on:◦ Underserved and distressed communities◦ Integrating natural resource and
community & economic development agencies
Urban Waters Federal Partnership
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Agencies
EPA USDADOIHUDDOT
USACE NOAA EDACDC
NIEHS CNCSwith
WH-DPC2
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Guiding Principles Promote clean urban waters Reconnect people to their waterways Conserve water Use urban water systems as a way to
promote economic revitalization and prosperity
Encourage community improvements through active partnerships
Be open and honest. Listening to communities is the best way to engage them
Focus on measuring results and evaluation to fuel future success
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Urban Waters Federal Partnership
Addressing needs of underserved and distressed communities adjacent to impaired waters
Lack of safe access, lack of recreation access and opportunities, health disparities, inequitable distribution of benefits of natural resources
EJ Embedded Up Front◦ National Metrics/Measures for EJ in Pilot
Evaluation◦ Community Stakeholder Engagement
frontloaded in partnership priority setting
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Environmental Justice
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Provide coordinated federal support to communities with existing resources
Learn by working together on the ground; inform programs & policies
Pilot Selection Process◦ Nominated by agencies’ field offices ◦ Criteria included:
• Agency willing to lead• Multiple federal agencies already engaged• Underserved and distressed communities• Active state, local and community partners
• Also considered: Geographic diversity
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Federal Partnership Pilots
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Anacostia River (DOI) – DC/MDBaltimore (USDA) - MDBronx/Harlem (DOI) - NYDenver (USDA/EPA) - COLos Angeles (EPA) - CANew Orleans (EPA) - LANW Indiana (USDA) - IN
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First Phase Pilot Locations
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What’s Underway at Pilots
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Pilot Partnership Teams Established
Identifying barriers Prioritizing projects Engaging stakeholders
Pilot Support Urban Waters “Ambassadors” NCCC AmeriCorps Crews USFS Restoration Funds (3 sites)
Eg. Baltimore Summer Jobs for Youth
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DENVER
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South Platte River EPA and USDA Co-Leads “From the Forest to the Faucet”
Children’s Forest Corridor Project
USGS, DOI, USFS, Public Health Partners
“Let’s Move” campaign
USFS Field Support Colorado State Forestry Ambassador Restoration projects at four urban sites
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BALTIMORE
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Gwynns Falls Watershed USDA Lead with USGS & HUD
Partners
Baltimore “Pattern Book” Baltimore City Office of
Sustainability Rehab / Redevelopment Toolkit
for Vacant and Condemned Properties
USFS Field Support Parks and People Ambassador Support Green Jobs for Youth - Arboriculture
Training w/ MD DNR and Baltimore City
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NEW ORLEANS
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Lake Pontchartrain & MISS River EPA Lead with USGS and USFWS
New Canal Lighthouse Lake Pontchartrain Basin
Foundation City of New Orleans
EPA Field Support Ambassador – Dedicated EPA FTE Urban Waters Small Grants Program
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National Support
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EPA Urban Waters National Office
National Roll Out EPA Urban Waters Small Grants Sharing Tools with all
communities Metrics and Evaluation Progress Report and Signatories
Event Enrolling new partner
communities Engaging national private
partners
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Lessons Learned
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Insight into Inter-agency Lift Action Forcing Events
Narrow the Gap between WO and Field
Flexibility vs. Tighter Definitions
Being Opportunistic [AGO etc.]
Value of Champions13
Healthy Environment,Revitalized Communities
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Work Together as a Federal Family
Learn from the Pilots
Integrate & Innovate National Programs
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Urban Waters Contacts
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Alice Ewen (USDA-Forest Service)Urban & Community Forestry [email protected]
Roy Simon (EPA)Office of Groundwater and Drinking [email protected] 202-564-3868
Learn more at:www.urbanwaters.gov