Miller Creek Pilot Watershed ProjectMiller Creek Pilot Watershed ProjectStewardship Group Formation & HistoricalStewardship Group Formation & Historical Ecology of Ecology of

the Watershedthe Watershed

The Watershed ProjectThe Watershed ProjectMichelle LeBeauMichelle LeBeauJennifer RobinsonJennifer Robinson

North Bay Watershed AssociationNorth Bay Watershed Association

March 7, 2008March 7, 2008

Photo Courtesy Marin History Museum, Brady Photo Courtesy Marin History Museum, Brady CollectionCollection

San Francisco Estuary San Francisco Estuary InstituteInstitute

Micha SalomonMicha SalomonMeredith WilliamsMeredith WilliamsChuck StriplenChuck StriplenRobin GrossingerRobin GrossingerJosh CollinsJosh CollinsLinda WanczykLinda Wanczyk

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgments► Harry Seraydarian - North Bay Watershed AssociationHarry Seraydarian - North Bay Watershed Association► Liz Lewis & Paul Curfman - Marin County Flood Control & Liz Lewis & Paul Curfman - Marin County Flood Control &

Water Conservation Water Conservation District District

► Lucas Valley Homeowners AssociationLucas Valley Homeowners Association► Jeff Haltiner – Hydrologist, Philip Williams and AssociatesJeff Haltiner – Hydrologist, Philip Williams and Associates► Ernest Klock - Marin County Dept. of Public WorksErnest Klock - Marin County Dept. of Public Works► Jocelyn Moss, Barbara Eaton - Marin History MuseumJocelyn Moss, Barbara Eaton - Marin History Museum► Dennis Healey, Robert Taylor - Marin Community Dennis Healey, Robert Taylor - Marin Community

Development AgencyDevelopment Agency► Sue Holland - Miller Creek School Sue Holland - Miller Creek School

Discussion todayDiscussion today

► Project OverviewProject Overview► Stewardship FormationStewardship Formation► Historical EcologyHistorical Ecology► Future directionsFuture directions

Project Goals and ApproachProject Goals and Approach

► How can Historical Ecology be used to promote How can Historical Ecology be used to promote stewardship and further community watershed stewardship and further community watershed understanding? understanding?

► Will informed stewards use their historical Will informed stewards use their historical understanding to establish ecological goals? understanding to establish ecological goals? enhance steelhead habitat protection efforts? enhance steelhead habitat protection efforts?

► Can Miller Creek residents use HE to inform bank Can Miller Creek residents use HE to inform bank and riparian restoration efforts?and riparian restoration efforts?

► Historical Ecology StudyHistorical Ecology Study Historical & existing Historical & existing

conditionsconditions Landscape change Landscape change

assessmentassessment

► Stewardship Group Stewardship Group Formation: Formation: Establish an organizationEstablish an organization Develop the funding planDevelop the funding plan

Key Project LearningKey Project Learning

►Effective partnershipEffective partnership►Good community participation in both Good community participation in both

aspects of the projectaspects of the project►Successful launch of stewards groupSuccessful launch of stewards group►Challenging final productsChallenging final products

Miller Creek Watershed Miller Creek Watershed StewardsStewards

► Strong government encouragementStrong government encouragement► Generated public interestGenerated public interest► Core team establishedCore team established► 4 public outreach meetings4 public outreach meetings► Fiscal sponsorshipFiscal sponsorship► Future funding sources identifiedFuture funding sources identified

A Resource Guide for A Resource Guide for Community Stewardship EffortsCommunity Stewardship Efforts

Over 50 active community-based Over 50 active community-based organizations or groups in the San organizations or groups in the San Francisco Bay Area to protect our valuable Francisco Bay Area to protect our valuable water resourceswater resources

Organizations take many forms, from Organizations take many forms, from formal to informal, calling themselves formal to informal, calling themselves Keepers, Alliances, Fields of, Stewards, Keepers, Alliances, Fields of, Stewards, Watershed groups or watershed Watershed groups or watershed organizations, among othersorganizations, among others

Sustainability is a growing issue for all Sustainability is a growing issue for all watershed effortswatershed efforts

Community Community OrganizingOrganizing

When starting a watershed stewardship organization, all parties with any stake in the watershed should be identified and informed Create a database or some type of tracking system for community contacts

Structuring a Community-Based Structuring a Community-Based OrganizationOrganization

Steps for Finding the Right Structure for Your Steps for Finding the Right Structure for Your OrganizationOrganization

Step 1: Focus & PurposeStep 1: Focus & Purpose

Step 2: Organizational StructureStep 2: Organizational Structure Step 3 : Action PlanStep 3 : Action PlanStep 4 : Annual BudgetingStep 4 : Annual Budgeting

Examples of common Projects undertaken by Examples of common Projects undertaken by watershed organizationswatershed organizations Creekside Re-Vegetation ProjectsCreekside Re-Vegetation Projects Native Plant Demonstration GardensNative Plant Demonstration Gardens In-Class Creek Ecology and urban runoff educationIn-Class Creek Ecology and urban runoff education Storm Drains Stenciling CampaignStorm Drains Stenciling Campaign Production of Creek Care Best Management Practices Production of Creek Care Best Management Practices

GuidelinesGuidelines Volunteer Water Quality and Macro Invertebrates Volunteer Water Quality and Macro Invertebrates

Monitoring ProgramMonitoring Program Compilation of Oral Histories of Long-Term Residents of Compilation of Oral Histories of Long-Term Residents of

the Watershedthe Watershed GIS Mapping of the Creek or of the Places of InterestGIS Mapping of the Creek or of the Places of Interest Development and Installation of Watershed SignsDevelopment and Installation of Watershed Signs Pollution Reduction CampaignsPollution Reduction Campaigns AdvocacyAdvocacy Organizational DevelopmentOrganizational Development

Project and Program Management Project and Program Management (Contd…)(Contd…)

Good set of questions to ask at the beginning of a Good set of questions to ask at the beginning of a fundraising cycle:fundraising cycle: How much do you need? What’s your goal?How much do you need? What’s your goal? Do you need operating support or project-specific Do you need operating support or project-specific

funds?funds? How long will you need to sustain that funding level?How long will you need to sustain that funding level? What are your volunteer and staff resources?What are your volunteer and staff resources? How much time is available?How much time is available? What is the interest of the volunteers?What is the interest of the volunteers?

FundraisingFundraising

Fundraising Fundraising (Contd…)(Contd…)

Fundraising StrategiesFundraising Strategies Board Member Solicitation (ongoing)Board Member Solicitation (ongoing) Individual Contribution (most flexibility in terms of time frame)Individual Contribution (most flexibility in terms of time frame) Public Funders (time frame typically ranges from 3 to 12 months)Public Funders (time frame typically ranges from 3 to 12 months) Membership Program (ongoing)Membership Program (ongoing) Corporate/Business Contribution (time frame typically ranges from 3 to 6 Corporate/Business Contribution (time frame typically ranges from 3 to 6

months)months) Corporate Foundations (time frame typically ranges from 4 to 6 months)Corporate Foundations (time frame typically ranges from 4 to 6 months) Private Foundations and Trusts (time frame typically ranges from 4 to 6 Private Foundations and Trusts (time frame typically ranges from 4 to 6

months)months) Fundraising Event (intimate events can be planned in 3 to 4 months; most Fundraising Event (intimate events can be planned in 3 to 4 months; most

take 6 to 12 months of planning)take 6 to 12 months of planning) In Kind ServicesIn Kind Services

Walnut Creek, CA

The lake at Heather Farm

• Tool for understanding landscape change

• Helps understand the contemporary landscape

• Challenges assumptions, identifies opportunities

• Reveals options for the future

better understanding of how the system is functioning (hydrology, geomorphology, and ecology)

basis for integrated watershed planning

Historical Ecology: science + history

Legend

Work in progress

Study Completed

Painting of Miller Creek by George Demont OtisPainting of Miller Creek by George Demont Otis

THANK THANK YOU!!!YOU!!!