Delaware River Watershed Circuit Rider

Delaware River Watershed Circuit Rider Draft Proposal--10/11 2000
J. Glenn Eugster, National Park Service for
Heritage Conservancy, 85 Old Dublin Pike
Doylestown, PA. 18901-2489
(215) 345-7020 telephone
(215) 345-4328 telefax

Summary

This is a request to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to collaborate with Heritage Conservancy in the creation of a Delaware River Partnership Office, and to fund a Pennsylvania Delaware River Watershed Circuit Rider starting in January 2001. The purpose of the Pennsylvania Circuit Rider, initially, is to:

1. Help the Conservancy to create a Delaware River Watershed Partnership Office.
Help local governments and private groups identify and
Establish priorities for local land and river conservation issues and needs;
Develop and agree on Delaware River Watershed
Conservation Indicators to measure progress of this effort;
Prepare an action plan for local and private sector river
and land conservation assistance for the next four years;
5. Convene a Delaware River Watershed Partnership Forum to discuss local river and watershed conservation issues, needs, conservation indicators and future Circuit Rider assistance.
6. Prepare a Annual Report to the Commonwealth on the Status of the Delaware River Watershed Partnership Office and Pennsylvania Circuit Rider.


Background

Since its formation in 1958 Heritage Conservancy, a non-profit organization, has been dedicated to preserving natural and historic heritage. The Conservancy works with four states, eight hundred and eighty units of local government, and one hundred and fifty private organizations to help communities help themselves to conserve, restore, regenerate, revitalize, interpret and enjoy their natural, cultural, recreational, and economic assets.

The Conservancy's focus on a "systems" approach to conserving the natural, cultural, economic and recreational values of the Delaware River watershed began in 1989 with the development of the Delaware River Greenway Project. Working collaboratively with governments, private groups and businesses, the Conservancy emphasized the need to build linkages among protected lands and open spaces throughout the watershed.

In 1995 the Conservancy and its partners expanded the greenway effort to recognize the relationship between land, river and watershed conservation. A series of group discussions were held to identify the needs, issues and benefits of watershed protection and the value of coordinating activities, assistance and programs. Twenty key public and private entities operating in the watershed participated in the discussions. Governments and groups involved included:

Land trusts and environmental groups (i.e. PA Environmental Council, Delaware River keeper, etc.); educators (i.e. Delaware Nature Society, Bucks County Audubon Society, etc.);
Cultural and business interests (i.e. Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau, Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce, etc.);
Federal agencies (i.e. EPA, NPS, FWS); State agencies (PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, NJ Department of Environmental Protection, etc.)and;
Interstate bodies (i.e. Delaware River Interstate Commission, Delaware Estuary Program).

These interests helped to identify options for local Delaware River watershed action including:
Develop a basin-wide planning vision and customized sub-watershed plans and efforts.
Identify environmental indicators to help measure the progress of the effort.

Following this collaboration the Heritage Conservancy developed a strategic plan for how it would assist other watershed partners carryout these actions. The Conservancy created the Delaware River Watershed Initiative as a framework for its services. The goal of the Initiative is to "Lead and facilitate river and watershed conservation by enabling and building capacity among watershed constituencies".

The specific strategies for achieving this goal include:

Promote the Delaware River watershed (i.e. Sojourn, River Day, marketing, etc.)
Convene public and private partnerships (i.e. conferences, discussion forums, etc.)
Help groups and local governments help themselves with "real conservation work" (i.e. technical and financial assistance, Circuit Rider, etc.)
Share research, education and science (i.e. watershed assessment, curriculum guide, etc.)
Provide information to partners and the public (i.e. Channels newsletter, river information sourcebook, etc.)

In 1999 as part of the Delaware River Watershed Initiative, Heritage Conservancy, along with twenty government agencies and private organizations, sponsored a "Flowing to the Future Conference" to educate people on current efforts, showcase innovative strategies; and foster public and private partnerships. The conference was attended by 500 persons and resulted in a document "21st Century Visions and Directions". Twelve "big picture" actions were identified by the conference participants to create a framework for achieving a vision for the Delaware River watershed.

In the Flowing to the Future document two actions were referred to Heritage Conservancy to initiate.

#11. "Consider establishing a basin-wide stakeholders alliance to provide a forum for non-government organizations, businesses and other entities to develop programs, foster partnerships, facilitate issues, generate political support, and to provide needed linkages between state and federal policies and local communities".
#12. "Establish an educational program for local municipal officials regarding non-regulatory approaches and other tools for land conservation and management".

Following the Conference the Conservancy undertook an "Evaluation of the Potential for Increased Inter-Organizational Collaboration in the Delaware River Basin"

In order to follow-up on the recommendations which they were assigned the Conservancy convened a workshop in January 2000 with the major stakeholders of the watershed. A second meeting was held in February 2000 with smaller non-profit organizations. The recommendations from this collaborative effort included:

" Heritage Conservancy, and others, should actively support the creation of multiple and informal collaborative initiatives throughout the basin and at all levels. Among the collaborative efforts that should be encouraged are:
Sub-basin-level watershed association collaboration;
collaboration among land trusts to identify and protect key riparian and aquifer recharge areas;
collaboration between municipal water supply interests, conservation groups, and local government in maintaining clean water;
collaboration between local government and regional planning initiatives;
collaboration between conservation interests and businesses".

The results of this evaluation support an alliance of watershed partners and can provide for collaboration, local education and assistance.

Heritage Conservancy looked at a variety of ways to "actively support the creation of multiple and informal collaborative initiatives". Using input from Glenn Eugster of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the National Park Service, Drew Parkin, of the Pacific Northwest Rivers Council, Joseph DiBello of the National Park Service, and Allen Sachse of the Delaware & Lehigh National Navigation Canal Heritage Corridor, the Conservancy has made a commitment to create a Delaware River Watershed Partnership Office.


Delaware River Watershed Partnership Office

Heritage Conservancy is in the process of creating a Delaware River Watershed Partnership Office to provide private sector leadership to facilitate and assist local government and private sector river and watershed conservation assistance. The Partnership Office will support three to five Delaware River Watershed Circuit Riders. These individuals will be available, on a full-time arrangement, to work with municipalities, private groups and businesses on a request basis. Circuit Riders will provide technical assistance, information and training to support locally led river and watershed conservation actions.

This proposal describes the activities, and expectations, of the Pennsylvania Circuit Rider.

The Partnership Office will:
Emphasize interdisciplinary approaches and side-by-side working relationships between key government and private sector agencies and organizations within the Delaware River watershed.
Coordinate early and often with relevant Commonwealth agencies and interstate authorities, such as the Delaware River Basin Commission, the Upper Delaware River Council and the Delaware Estuary Program, to foster collaboration.
Integrate the proposed activities with other Pennsylvania Circuit Rider efforts to avoid duplication and public confusion.
Encourage inter-municipal and public-private river and watershed conservation cooperation, which relates to regional conservation and recreation goals and facilitates sharing of experiences successful models and best practices.
Make available existing Heritage Conservancy expertise to support the Circuit Rider and the Initiative.

The Partnership Office will emphasize a locally based and private sector led service organization. The Office will include a range of services include technical assistance, information, and training. The staff will have expertise in land, river and watershed conservation, recreation and open space, strategic planning, facilitation and consensus building. These skills will be supplemented with assistance from environmental, cultural and economic experts from government and industry.

The office will be located at Heritage Conservancy’s building in Doylestown, PA. Heritage Conservancy agrees to pay for office space, utilities, supplies and to provide administrative and supervisory support. Heritage Conservancy requests the Commonwealth Pennsylvania to provide a grant to provide funding assistance for one Delaware River Watershed Circuit Rider for a five-year period.

The Conservancy understands that, initially the Commonwealth will cover 100% of this person's time. In the second year of operation, 25% of the total operating costs will come from the private sector (i.e. non-government organizations, industry and foundations). In future years this percentage will be increased to 50%, then 75%, and finally, 100%.

Heritage Conservancy will be the recipient of government and foundation grants and manage all of the finances of the Partnership Office. The Conservancy will be responsible for the matching funds for this grant.


Scope of Work--2001

Within the first year of this agreement, the Circuit Rider will:

Develop a Memorandum of Understanding and Action Plan
between the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Heritage Conservancy. The agreement will describe the specific tasks, deliverables, time schedules, and private sector contributions for this collaborative effort.

Conduct an assessment of the river conservation issues
and needs of local governments and small watershed groups and associations within the Pennsylvania portion of the Delaware River watershed. The results of this assessment will be summarized in a written report and used as the basis for developing an Annual Work Plan and a list of Delaware River Watershed Conservation Indicators.

3. Develop and agree on a list of Delaware River Watershed Conservation Indicators to be used to identify priority sub-watersheds, river and watershed conservation values, and local assistance tasks (i.e. # of new small watershed associations formed).

Develop an Annual Work Plan between the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania and Heritage Conservancy. The workplan will describe priority sub-watersheds and local assistance needs, and specific technical, information and training activities to be carried out within the year.

5. Investigate possible State, federal and private sector support for additional Circuit Rider positions within New Jersey, New York and Delaware.

6. Convene a Delaware River Watershed forum to discuss the assessment of issues, needs; watershed conservation indicators; and a draft proposal for assistance in 2002.

7. Provide an Annual Report on the status of the Delaware River Watershed Partnership Office and Pennsylvania Circuit Rider.

For further information contact:
Clifford C. David Jr., President,
Heritage Conservancy, (215) 345-7020, extension 112






















Appendix A: Draft Pennsylvania Circuit Rider Budget


Heritage Conservancy
Delaware River Partnership Office
Circuit Rider Proposal
Budget for Year One
Task Notes Costs
Salary (DCNR Request) $ 60,000
Fringe Benefits (DCNR Request) 21% of salary $ 12,600
Clerical assistance and supervision 6,000

1. Institutionalization of the Office
Letters-Postage 300
Program Supplies 1,000
Computer Workstation 1,500
Services bulletin-Layout & Design 250
Services bulletin-Printing 1,000
Services bulletin - postage 300
Telephone Cellular Phone 1,200
Professional Education 500

2. Brief consultation with each of the municipalities
Travel 600

3. Six daylong consultations
Travel 600

4. Six service projects (proposal prep)
Travel 450

5. Six service projects (management and TA)
Travel 900

6. Provide three training programs
Travel (including presenter expense) 1,500
Site costs-rentals 3,000
Advertising and outreach 1,500
Presenter honorarium-Contract Services 3,000
Program Supplies $500/each program 1,500

Subtotal $ 97,700
Overhead at 12 % $ 11,724

Project Total $ 195,400

DCNR aid request (salary, fringe, travel) $ 74,550