Russian River Watershed

8/31/98

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Meeting Purposes

•  Review responses to community questions raised so far
•  Consider a potential model for the council that reflects community input from the last meeting
•  Discuss a process for launching the council

•  A balance between “slowing the process down” and “getting on with it”!
•  Productive and responsive

• Potential Benefits
•  Decision Making
•  Rapid Timeline
•  Funding Issues
•  Process

•  Develop a watershed perspective
•  Create a place at the table for under-represented interests
•  Build shared solutions
•  Increase community influence on local, state, and federal policy through coordination
•  Sponsor and monitor credible studies

•  Based on shared power
•  Developed through relationships
•  Grounded on solid science
•  Greater than the sum of our individual voices
•  Strengthened as Council’s credibility and leadership position grows

•  The opportunity to secure Corps and matching state funds in the short term ends in November
•  There will be a new governor and we can’t predict his priorities
•  The problems on the River are not getting any better
•  So, we can slow down . . . But need to be aware of the trade-offs

•  Operational funds for the Council
•  Study of issues determined by the Council
•  Public involvement and education
•  Streamlining the regulatory permit process

•  An element of the Reconnaissance Report
•  Establishes the cost of the Feasibility Study and the division of costs between the Corps and the state
•  Identifies the scope and schedule of major tasks in the Feasibility Study
•  The vehicle for obtaining federal funding

What is the timeline of the PSP?

•  A PSP is normally completed within six months of the final Recon Report
•  RR PSP time extended 1 year to develop a community planning process
•  PSP scheduled completion date 11/98
•  Timely submittal of PSP demonstrates community support for the process
•  Timely submittal is critical to continued financial support

•  Support the Watershed Community Council
•  Get the right people on the WCC
•  Encourage involvement of those with the time & knowledge to identify issues of concern within Russian River watershed
•  Involve your neighbors and friends in this planning effort - get the word out

•  Identify local leaders for the Watershed Community Council
•  Communicate openly
•  Build consensus
•  Define the ground rules
•  Recognize the benefits of the process
•  Work from a watershed perspective
•  Use best science - accurate data

•  A possible process for moving  forward . . .

•  September 12 can be an Interim Council
•  The Interim Council will serve as a  “constitutional convention” to define the workings of the council, e.g.,

&endash; Membership
&endash; Decisionmaking
&endash; Public Input
 

•  The following meeting is targeted for early October