Several Watershed Management Organizations (WMOs) in the West Metro area have met periodically in the past as a Joint Education and Outreach group to collaborate on water resources education and outreach activities. This informal group grew from an initial collaboration of the Shingle Creek, West Mississippi and Bassett Creek WMOs to include the Elm Creek and Pioneer-Sarah Creek WMOs.
From this collaboration the West Metro Water Alliance (WMWA) was established in 2010 and has developed the following vision and mission statements:
Vision:
The West Metro Water Alliance (WMWA) is a collaborative group working to create educational opportunities to protect and improve water resources.
Mission:
The mission of the WMWA is to improve water resources through education and outreach by:
· Identifying and implementing common education and outreach strategies to promote consistency of messages;
· Pooling resources to undertake activities in the most cost-effective manner; and
· Promoting interagency cooperation and collaboration.
The group operates with staff support provided by Shingle Creek WMO consultants Judie Anderson and JASS, and Diane Spector from Wenck Associates. Hennepin County Environmental Services, Three Rivers Park District and the Freshwater Society also provide support to WMWA as partners. The Shingle Creek WMO serves as the group’s fiscal agent.
WMWA has developed a West Metro Education and Outreach Plan, intended to provide details on joint activities and to provide a framework that the participating organizations can use to develop or refine their own education and outreach plans. The actions in the West Metro Education and Outreach Plan are based around the education and outreach requirements of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s General Stormwater Permit. The following is a summary of the goals set forth for this Plan:
· Provide a guide for WMOs and communities to focus their educational efforts;
· Identify partnerships and opportunities to work within Hennepin County on joint educational programs;
· Develop a centralized list of available information regarding water resources issues; and
· Present one common, useable document for all participating communities and WMOs to help them deliver a common message to the general public.
The West Metro Water Alliance will host a series of educational workshops in 2011 targeted to city elected officials, advisory commission members, and city staff. In partnership with Hennepin County Environmental Services, the Three Rivers Park District, and the Freshwater Society, this consortium of five watershed management organizations has targeted three topics of particular interest: stormwater volume management to reduce runoff; nutrient management to improve water quality; and integrating TMDLs into city planning and management.
A telephone survey conducted for the Alliance found very strong support for protecting and improving Minnesota’s lakes and streams, with 75 percent of respondents believing that clean water is very important, even considering all the other issues and needs facing their communities. The goal of the workshops is to help key decision-makers and their advisors make informed decisions that will protect and improve water quality, sustain property values, and make the most effective use of tax dollars. These evening workshops are intended to provide information and management tools as well as an opportunity to share success stories and learn from peers in other cities and counties.
Recognizing that cities in the western Metro area run from highly developed to suburban to agricultural, the first two workshops will be offered as two sessions: the first will be tailored to issues facing developed and redeveloping cities, and the second to developing and predominantly agricultural communities. The final TMDL workshop will be offered as one session, applicable to all. Each session will start with networking and a keynote speaker, continue with a presentation covering the latest techniques and planning tools for stormwater management and conclude with a panel presentation and discussion of specific examples of successful projects, research, development, and regulation. A light dinner will be served.
Forum 3: Path to Clean Water – Understanding TMDLs and Watershed Planning