Goal: Southeast Alaska is a place where a network of community-based watershed management efforts is achieving informed management of the resources.
By drawing from SAWC’s broad-based alliance and network SAWC contractors and staff are able to provide a variety of services to natural resource managers, community development professionals, tribes, municipalities, agencies, developers, schools and citizens
Services:
- SAWC organizes and host regional and statewide trainings
- SAWC provides strategic planning tools, organizational development support, financial management tools and project planning to member groups, watershed efforts, tribes, and other community-based organizations
- SAWC promotes management strategies and develops programs that support Community-Based Watershed Management regionally state-wide, including Watershed and Wetland Planning and a third party Wetland Mitigation Program
Why do we provide service that support Community-Based Watershed Management:
Community-based watershed management is not easy, nor is it always effective at protecting or restoring watershed functions and community health. SAWC was initiated by these local groups to support them over-come the variety of obstacles they tend to face.
Some of the challenges faced by those who adopt a community –based approach include the following:
Obstacle: Watersheds in SE cover thousands of acres of public and privately owned land. Developing even a basic understanding of how human activities affect watershed functions is a major undertaking.
Solution: SAWC provides tools, resources and trainings on watershed planning and watershed management. Contact us for more information.
Obstacle: Some key stakeholders may lack the time, motivation, skills, or resources to participate effectively throughout the management planning process.
Solution: SAWC works with community leaders to provide key stakeholders with the skills, resources, and incentives to participate.
Obstacle: Resource management professionals may be reluctant to give up their role as experts and to share authority with lay persons regarding resource management issues.
Solution: SAWC works with local, state, and federal decision makers to influence environmental policies to ensure these key stakeholders are working with local watershed efforts and are addressing local concerns.
Obstacle: Conflicts between stakeholders over management goals and the means to accomplishing those goals are inevitable, and resource management professionals are often ill-prepared to facilitate constructive dialogue to resolve these conflicts.
Solution: SAWC will partner with your community to facilitate difficult discussions around natural resources development and conservation goals and objectives. Are facilitation is based on Environmental Conflict Resolution
Obstacle: Community-based approaches require time and resources to generate interest and to build relationships between stakeholders. Funding agencies and stakeholders may grow impatient with the lack of observable outcomes.
Solution: SAWC’s role in SE is to advocate on a local, regional, state and federal level for community-based approaches. We work hard to promote your work and demonstrate the long-term sustainable impact of your efforts.
