FOSTERING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT

1. FOSTERING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT Module 26, part C – Education Programs

2. Objectives Students will be able to: • provide examples of successful programs that protect water resources. • describe key elements of the Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials program. • compare the Shoreland Management Program and the Adopt-A-River Program. • determine the significance of the Feather River Water and Air Quality Program. • describe the positive impacts of the Global Action Plan Community Lifestyles Campaign.

3. Knowledge first; behavior change second • Knowledge is the first step toward behavior change • The link for understanding why changing our behavior is important for water resource protection • It does not make the behavior change

4. Successful Programs • Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) - National • Shoreland Management Program - Minnesota • Adopt-a-River – Minnesota • Case Study - Feather River Water and Air Quality Project • Case Study - Global Action Plan Community Lifestyles Campaign

5. NEMO • An educational program for local land use officials that addresses the relationship of land use to natural resource protection. Nonpoint Source Pollution * USEPA Polluted Runoff is #1 Water Quality Problem in U.S.*

6. LEGEND Forest Open/Grassland Rural Resident Com/Ind/Rds Water/Wetlands NEMO’s key elements • Goal - Natural Resource Protection • Issue - Land Use • better land use decisions are the key to protecting the natural resources, community character, and long-term economic health of our communities.

7. NEMO’s key elements • Audience - Local Officials making land use decisions is the target audience. In the U.S., this means local officials serving on land use boards at the county and municipal levels. To enable decision makers NOT to: become watershed experts or pollution specialists BUT to ASK the RIGHT QUESTIONS

8. Method – Education, particularly research-based, non-advocacy professional outreach education, is the best way to foster better land use decisions. NEMO’s key elements INTENSITY OF LAND USE POTENTIAL WATER QUALITY PROBLEMS AMOUNT OF IMPERVIOUS SURFACE, REDUCED FOREST COVER, LOSS OF STORAGE

9. NEMO – a bit of history • Created 1991 in Connecticut • Today there are 34 projects across the U.S. and U.S. territories. National NEMO (member states in orange) http://nemo.uconn.edu/national/members.htm

10. NEMO – a few of the many results • 150 educational workshops a year • Helps communities map projections of full community build-outs to analyze water quality impact scenarios • Includes rural areas and cities across the country • Newly developed plans and ordinances have incorporated NEMO concepts to protect water quality

11. Shoreland Management Program • Effective, low cost means to reach the people (website). • Easy access to information about sustainable shoreland practices. • Scientific and technical background. • Highlights of citizen action • Contact information.

12. Shoreland Management Program • Quick and Easy Answers Fact Sheets developed for web and for downloading copies. • Topics include: • managing lakes and rivers as part of the landscape • managing water quality • managing shoreland property • shoreland regulations • planning for the future of your lake or river • altering or restoring your shoreline • managing aquatic plants and animals • wastewater treatment on shoreland property • managing lake and river use

13. Adopt-a-River Program • The Adopt-a-River program encourages volunteers to "adopt" a section of a lake, river, wetland or ravine to ensure its long-term health through annual cleanups. • Challenges you to become personally involved in the care of our resources. • The program supplies "how-to“ assistance, free rubbish bags, gloves and recognition.

14. Adopt-a-River Program Results • Information tracked includes pounds of rubbish collected, volunteer hours, and descriptions of the debris found. • Over 1,600 cleanups completed by about 53,000 volunteers between 1989 and 2002. • 3.9 million pounds of rubbish removed from Minnesota's public waters.

15. Getting the word out • Volunteers hear about the program in a variety of ways including: • community cleanup events • Cleanup Review newsletter • DNR's web site • national directory listings • word of mouth.

16. Case Study: Feather River Water and Air Quality Project • Purpose • reduce pesticide applications which would result in less pesticide residue in surface water • manage surface water runoff by recycling, improved application and improved irrigation systems

17. Case Study: Feather River Water and Air Quality Project • Farmers were provided with financial incentives to: • improve irrigation systems and maintain drainage • improve application efficiency • Results • Significant water savings • Reduced chemical application • Observed positive change in cultural practices

18. Case Study: Global Action Plan Community Lifestyles Campaign • Purpose is to work through the Household Ecoteam Workbook with group of friends or neighbors. • Topics include energy efficiency, transportation, water conservation, and waste reduction • Actions are provided

19. Case Study: Global Action Plan Community Lifestyles Campaign • Attendance • 40-50% who are asked to attend do so • 85% continue with the 4 month process • Results from an average of households that participated • 42% less garbage • 25% less water • 16% less carbon dioxide • 16% less fuel for transportation • annual savings of $400

20. References • NEMO Program http://nemo.uconn.edu/ • Shoreland Management Program - http://www.shorelandmanagement.org/ • MN DNR Adopt-a-River Program - http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/adoptriver/index.html • Case Study: Feather River Water and Air Quality Project and Global Action Plan Community Lifestyles Campaign - http://ww.cbsm.com • Gershon, D. & Gilman, R. (1991). Household ecoteam workbook: A six month program to bring your household into environmental balance. Uxbridge, Ontario