Coastal Community Needs Assessment

and Market Inventory

Conducted for the Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve

and the Georgia Coastal Management Program

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Mark Damian DudaResponsive Management

Introduction

Identify coastal issues to address in training and information

Identify strategies, technologies, and formats to educate and inform decision-making groups

Identify coastal decision-making groups to target for training and information

Methodology

Two multi-modal surveys

• e-mail, mail, and telephone questionnaires

Needs Assessment

• survey administered to decision-makers in 11 coastal counties in Georgia

• determine priorities for coastal training

Market Inventory

• survey administered to coastal training providers

• inventory of available coastal training programs

Public Meetings and Feedback From Local Coastal Decision-Makers

Comparison of Needs Assessment and Market Inventory

Implications and Recommendations

Needs Assessment

Percent who indicated professionally having a high need for coastal resource training or information on the following

topics. (Part 1.)

3637

394041414143

454749

51525252

626666

0 20 40 60 80 100

Sustainable buildingErosion and sedimentation control

BuffersWastewater management

GIS (Geographic Information System)Economic aspects of land use

Septic tanksEnvironmental aspects of land use

Renewable energyWetlands and waterways protection

Coastal constructionCoastal community development

Water qualityStormwater

Ordinances and regulationsZoning

Land use planningWater quantity

Percent

Percent who indicated professionally having a high need for coastal resource training or information on the following

topics. (Part 2.)

1012131516

181920212222

2427

292930

34

0 20 40 60 80 100

BiodiversityNutrient enrichmentOcean management

Invasive speciesNative plant and animal species

Boat / marina managementHabitat change

Habitat restoration andSaltmarshes

Beach nourishmentCoastal processes

Marine debrisEnvironmental technologies

Coastal hazardsDocks and piers

Impacts of human disturbancesLow impact development

Percent

Percent who indicated professionally having a high need for coastal resource training or information on the following

topics. (Part 2.)

1012131516

181920212222

2427

292930

34

0 20 40 60 80 100

BiodiversityNutrient enrichmentOcean management

Invasive speciesNative plant and animal species

Boat / marina managementHabitat change

Habitat restoration andSaltmarshes

Beach nourishmentCoastal processes

Marine debrisEnvironmental technologies

Coastal hazardsDocks and piers

Impacts of human disturbancesLow impact development

Percent

Percent who indicated that the following coastal resource professional development delivery methods were very

effective in learning about coastal resource issues. (Part 1.)

25

25

27

30

36

40

49

56

62

68

68

0 20 40 60 80 100

Continuing education courses

Case studies

Seminars

Round-table discussions

Workshops

Field-based programs / field trips

Informal training (one-on-one meetings, etc.)

Hands-on activities

Individual consultation

Demonstrations

One-on-one instruction

Percent

Percent who indicated that the following coastal resource professional development delivery methods were very

effective in learning about coastal resource issues. (Part 2.)

5

7

7

7

8

9

13

16

18

19

23

0 20 40 60 80 100

Laboratory courses

Role-playing

Distance learning programs

Web-based programs

Pre-service training

Lectures

Conferences

Information products and technical resources

In-service training

Presentations

Certification programs

Percent

Percent who indicated that there is a high need for the following groups to receive coastal resource information

and/or professional development in Georgia. (Part 1.)

6970727272737575

787879818182

8687

0 20 40 60 80 100

Inland fisheries & wildlife personnelEstuarine researchers

Building / development associationsEnvironmental protection agency personnel

Environmental health officialsSoil and water conservation districts

Environmental educatorsCoastal regulators

Coastal plannersCode enforcement officersEnvironmental consultants

Planning commission membersCity managersCity engineers

County commissionersCity planners

Percent

Percent who indicated that there is a high need for the following groups to receive coastal resource information

and/or professional development in Georgia. (Part 2.)

2327

3346484950515252545657

686969

0 20 40 60 80 100

Tourist boardsRotary International

Transportation officialsProperty owners associations

Land trustsGeneral population

Chambers of CommerceChapters of environmental organizations

Commercial property owners associationsRealty associations

Watershed associationsConservation commissions

UniversitiesMarine resource agency personnel

City council membersWetland scientists

Percent

Market Inventory

Which of the following coastal resource information topics/skills training does your agency/organization offer in

its coastal resource training program? (Part 1.)

252525

3030

3535353535

404040

455050

5575

0 20 40 60 80 100

Septic tanksWater quantity

ZoningBuffers

Native plant and animal speciesErosion and sedimentation control

Habitat changeImpacts of human disturbances

Nutrient enrichmentOrdinances and regulations

Coastal processesInvasive species

SaltmarshesGIS (Geographic Information System)

StormwaterWetlands and waterways protectionEnvironmental aspects of land use

Water quality

Percent

Which of the following coastal resource information topics/skills training does your agency/organization offer in

its coastal resource training program? (Part 2.)

1055555

151515

202020202020

252525

0 20 40 60 80 100

Other(s)Boat / marina management

Coastal constructionDocks and piers

Renewable energySustainable buildingBeach nourishment

Marine debrisOcean management

BiodiversityCoastal community development

Economic aspects of land useEnvironmental technologies

Low impact developmentWastewater management

Coastal hazardsHabitat restoration and protection

Land-use planning

Percent

What types of coastal resource training delivery methods does your agency/organization currently offer?

14

10

10

10

14

14

19

24

33

38

43

48

52

52

71

0 20 40 60 80 100

Other

Distance learning programs

Pre-service training

Laboratory courses

Certification programs

Web-based programs

Continuing education classes

In-service training

Information products and technical resources

Conferences

Individual consultation

Field-based programs / field trips

Informal training (one-on-one meetings, etc.)

Seminars

Workshops

Percent

Which of the following groups does your department/division or agency/organization currently target for coastal resource

training or information? (Part 1.)

24292929292929292929292929

35414141

65

0 20 40 60 80 100

Private engineering / land-planning firmsCity council members

County commissionersPlanning commission members

City managersCity planners

City engineersCode enforcement officers

Land trustsEnvironmental consultants

Estuarine researchersFisheries and wildlife personnel

Environmental Protection Agency personnelEnvironmental educators

Coastal regulatorCoastal planners

Marine resource agency personnelGeneral population

Percent

Which of the following groups does your department/division or agency/organization currently target for coastal resource

training or information? (Part 2.)

666

121212

181818

2424242424242424

0 20 40 60 80 100

Commercial property owners associationRotary International

Tourist boardsTransportation officials

Conservation commissionsSoil and Water Conservation districtsBuilding / development associations

Chambers of commerceLandscape architects

Environmental health officialsChapters of environmental organizations

Watershed associationsProperty owners associations

Realty associationsWetland scientists

UniversitiesReal estate developers

Percent

Public Meetings

Public Meetings

Conducted to present summary of the needs assessment and obtain feedback from local coastal decision-makers.

Public Meetings attended:

• Long County (April 1)

• Bryan County (April 1)

• Charlton County (April 3) (presentation and feedback discussion cancelled)

• Wayne County (April 7)

• McIntosh County (April 8)

Bryan County meeting and needs assessment study received media coverage in local news article.

“It identified some areas of interest by all the decision makers in the coastal region and identified some critical shortfalls. I think the results may help develop more training for the coastal region. There is a lot of training done around the state, but I think there’s a consensus that not enough training is done specifically on the coast. This study should help get some of those training shortfalls met in this area.” – Bryan County Administrator Phil Jones

Comparison of Needs Assessment and Market Inventory

Comparison Equation

Compared need and supply to determine demand for each topic, delivery method, and target group.

Equation to determine demand:

% of providers’ response minus % of decision-makers’ response

Example equation:

% of providers offering topic for training- % of decision-makers indicating a high need for training on topic

= demand

TOPICS FOR WHICH SUPPLY MEETS DEMAND—PERSONAL

TOPICS FOR WHICH SUPPLY MEETS DEMAND—AGENCY/ORGANIZATION

Invasive species Nutrient enrichment

Water quality Invasive species

Nutrient enrichment Native plant and animal species

Saltmarshes Coastal processes

Coastal processes

Habitat change

Native plant and animal species

Environmental aspects of land use

Biodiversity

Topics for WhichSupply Meets Demand

TOPICS WITH UNMET DEMAND—PERSONAL

TOPICS WITH UNMET DEMAND—AGENCY/ORGANIZATION

Coastal construction Water quantity

Water quantity Coastal construction

Land use planning Land use planning

Renewable energy Wastewater management

Zoning Zoning

Sustainable building Sustainable building

Coastal community development Docks and piers

Boat/marina management

Renewable energy

Low impact development

Coastal community development

Topics for WhichThere Is Unmet Demand

DELIVERY METHODS FOR WHICH SUPPLY MEETS DEMAND—PART A

DELIVERY METHODS FOR WHICH SUPPLY MEETS DEMAND—PART B

Workshops Presentations

Seminars Lectures

Conferences

Information products and technical resources

Delivery Methods for WhichSupply Meets Demand

DELIVERY METHODS WITH UNMET DEMAND—PART A

DELIVERY METHODS WITH UNMET DEMAND—PART B

Individual consultation Demonstrations

Certification programs One-on-one instruction

Continuing education classes Hands-on activities

Delivery Methods for WhichThere Is Unmet Demand

-40-40-37-34-34-32-30-29-27-27

-23-21-21-18-17

15

-80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40

Fisheries and wildlife personnelCity council members

Coastal plannersCoastal regulators

UniversitiesChambers of commerceWatershed associations

Realty associationsChapters of environmental organizations

Marine resource agency personnelProperty owners associations

Rotary InternationalTransportation officials

Land trustsTourist boards

General population

Percent

Groups currently targeted for coastal resource training or information versus groups rated as having a high need for receiving coastal

information and/or professional development in Georgia. (Part 1.)

-62-58-56-54-53-52-51-49-49-49-46-46-44-42-41-40

-80 -60 -40 -20 0 20 40

Soil and water conservation districtsCity planners

County commissionersBuilding / development associations

City engineersCity managers

Planning commission membersEnvironmental consultantsCode enforcement officers

Environmental health officialsWetland scientists

Commercial property owners associationsConservation commissions

Environmental protection agency personnelEstuarine researchers

Environmental educators

Percent

Groups currently targeted for coastal resource training or information versus groups rated as having a high need for receiving coastal

information and/or professional development in Georgia. (Part 2.)

Implications and Recommendations

General Recommendations

Overall interest in coastal training is high.

Decision-makers more often disagree than agree that there are enough coastal training providers that offer training to decision-makers.

Attendance of coastal training may be enhanced through promoting future coastal training opportunities at each training event/session that is conducted.

Programs that include making technology more available to decision-makers should be considered.

General Recommendations

Lack of cooperation between agencies and/or organizations was commonly indicated as being a primary inhibiting factor preventing “change and advancement.”

There is disparity between decision-makers’ views on the quality of the environment in their communities and the corresponding views of coastal resource organization respondents.

Use the data in this report as an ongoing resource.

Logistics of Training Sessions

Decision-makers indicated the following optimal factors and preferences for training sessions:

• Winter (the leading season by far)

• Weekdays preferred over weekends

• Half-day to day-long sessions

• Notification of training via direct mail or e-mail

• Online registration preferred over mail or telephone

Coastal Training Formats

Training formats for which there is a demand not being met (previously listed) appear to be:

• labor intensive

• considered highly effective

• not widely offered

Low ratings of effectiveness for Web and distance learning programs should be further examined.

Decision-makers’ use of Web and distance learning should be enhanced because they can be very effective training formats.