California Watershed Management Forums
12 Steps to California’s Watershed Recovery
December 2000
1. Form a statewide coalition/network of local watershed groups.
Create a statewide umbrella organization or coalition of local watershed groups for the purposes of communication, constituency building, informational sharing, and improving their capacity for organizational effectiveness.
Leaders: Laurel Ames, Sierra Nevada Alliance; Lynn Barris, Cherokee Watershed; Allen Harthorn, Sacramento River Watershed Program; Connor Everts, Southern California Watershed Alliance
2. Seek endorsement by Governor Davis for the State’s commitment to the watershed approach.
An Executive Order to address the statewide value of the watershed approach would be one means.
Leaders: Mary Ellen Dick, City of San Jose; Sungnome Madrone, Redwood Community Action Agency; Bob Meacher, RCRC; Martha Davis, Californians and the Land
3. Support collaborative watershed groups that are community-based.
a. Obtain State commitment for assistance with the start-up and continuation of collaborative watershed groups;
b. Advocate funding for the operation and capacity-building of such groups;
c. Advance the levels of state and federal technical support for such groups.
Leaders: CA Watershed Network; CA-CRMP; For the Sake of the Salmon; Resources Agency/CalEPA
4. Obtain Legislative endorsement of the State’s commitments.
Through one or more bills, seek necessary authority and funding to carry out the state’s role in its watershed management commitments, including #3 above.
Leaders: Connor Everts, So.Calif. Watershed Alliance; Mike Wellborn, Orange County; Laurel Ames, Sierra Nevada Alliance; RCRC; CSAC
5. Coordinate Agency watershed work officially through formal agreements.
Develop and obtain MOUs for Watershed Management that clearly states their commitments to cooperative watershed management in California:
a. among departments within the Resources Agency
b. among the State’s cabinet-level agencies
c. between the State and the Federal resource agencies
d. between the State and Local governments
e. between the State and watershed groups
Leaders: Tom Wehri, CARCD; Mike Wellborn, Orange County; Clay Brandow, CDF; Lisa H. McCann, Central Coast RWQCB
6. Prepare State watershed handbooks and guidelines.
Develop State manuals to help provide consistency and clear expectations to watershed groups, managers, and restoration practitioners about recommended methods for: watershed assessments, water quality and habitat monitoring, data reporting, and watershed plans.
Leaders: Russ Henley, CDF; Fraser Shilling, UCD; Rick Kattelmann, WMC; Kallie Kull, FishNet 4 C
7. Share state-of-the-art watershed restoration methods & effectiveness.
a. Hold an annual statewide watershed restoration conference, with a published proceedings to record the products of the event, as well as regional events.
b. Expand use of field tours throughout the State’s basins.
c. Develop website sharing of restoration information.
d. Develop a central listserve for announcements.
Leaders: Watershed Management Council; Salmonid Restoration Federation;CA-CRMP; For the Sake of the Salmon
8. Create pathways for education, communication and outreach about watersheds.
Develop a coordinated approach for improving awareness and understanding of watersheds and for improving involvement in watershed activities. Pursue the proposed Watershed Signing Program.
Leaders: David Gottleib, RCD of the Santa Monica Mountains; Allen Harthorn, Sacramento River Watershed Program; Mark Hite, CDF; Jacqueline Dingfelder, For the Sake of the Salmon
9. Establish State Scientific Peer Review Team(s) for watershed management.
Ensure that credible science in watershed management is recognized by the State and included as advisory within state agency grant processes through integrated review and advice by independent team(s) of scientists using an interdisciplinary approach.
Leaders: Cathy Bleier, Resources Agency; Russ Henly, CDF; Rick Kattelmann, WMC; Dennis Heiman, Central Valley RWQCB; Ann Riley, Waterways Restoration Institute
10. Promote effective watershed monitoring and project evaluation programs.
Focus on the Big Picture of what is needed for local watershed monitoring and project evaluation and what is needed to help local groups.
Leaders: Ken Coulter, SWRCB; Marty Gingras, CDFG; Donna Meyers, City of Santa Cruz; Rick Kattelmann, WMC
11. Develop an effective funding delivery system for grant recipients.
Address the ongoing need for a user-friendly grant process for recipients of state and federal restoration grants that also meets accountability standards of the grantors.
Leaders: California Biodiversity Council; Kristin Cooper-Carter, CSU Chico; Ann Riley, Waterways Restoration Institute; Dennis Heiman, Central Valley RWQCB
12. Identify a package of new incentives that need to be developed, and existing disincentives that need to be removed, in order to improve watershed management.
Develop a list of conservation incentives in California – what is and isn’t working - as well as new ideas and solutions for better individual, business, and governmental involvement watershed management.
Leaders: Sungnome Madrone, Redwood Community Action Agency; Jacqueline Dingfelder, For Sake of the Salmon; Mark Lancaster, Trinity County; Dennis Heiman, Central Valley RWQCB; Pam Giacomini, Farm Bureau
THEN---COME BACK TOGETHER AND CELEBRATE!