NC Source Water Collaborative:

Transcription

1 NC Source Water Collaborative: The First of Its Kind! Amy Axon Drinking Water Protection Program Public Water Supply Section Division of Water Resources Definitions Source Water - water from streams, rivers, lakes or aquifers that is used to provide public and private drinking water. Source Water Protection actions taken to ensure that these sources are safe and reliable for current and future needs. Source Water Collaborative - an assembly of diverse professionals working together to promote source water protection 1

2 The Drinking Water Protection Program Goal is to protect the state s public water supply sources, which serve approximately 8.2 million people. Our team develops strategies to improve and protect these sources by: Assess the vulnerability of our sources for planning purposes Work with stakeholder groups to develop protection plans Create incentives for taking proactive steps towards protection Partner with sister agencies to prioritize source protection How We Got Started National Model EPA Awarded Grant Kick Off Workshop 2

3 Kick-off Workshop December 6 th Attendees All Day Facilitated Meeting Partnering Organizations Association of County Commissioners City of Raleigh Clean Water Management Trust Fund Conservation Trust for NC Soil and Water Conservation Division of Water Resources Ecosystem Enhancement Program High Country Council of Governments Kerr Tar Council of Governments Land-of-Sky Council of Governments Mecklenburg County HD and Groundwater Guardian Natural Resource Conservation Service NC Farm Bureau Federation NC Forest Service NC League of Municipalities NC Rural Water Association NCSU - Cooperative Extension Piedmont Triad Regional Council Triangle J Council of Governments UNC School of Government - EFC Western Piedmont COG Wildlife Resource Commission 3

4 Organizational Structure Defines Meeting Facilitator Collaborative Member General Supporter Project Teams Outlines Achieving Consensus Decision Making Meeting Procedure Statement of Purpose Protecting the quality and quantity of our state s drinking water resources not only serves public health, but also benefits the complex, natural ecosystem with which they are interconnected. It is the underlying intent of the NC Source Water Collaborative to develop and support strategies designed to preserve the lakes, streams, rivers and aquifers used for drinking water and the land which protects and recharges these sources of water. Mission We facilitate collaborative approaches and creative solutions for drinking water protection through identification and implementation of complementary objectives, stewardship, education and outreach, and leveraging of resources. Vision North Carolina s drinking water resources and their associated environmental assets are protected to provide safe, sustainable drinking water for the benefit of all citizens. As members of the North Carolina Source Water Collaborative, the undersigned organizations agree to function as effective and respected champions to accomplish our mission on behalf of all North Carolina citizens. 4

5 Objectives Promote Source Water Protection through Education, Outreach and Messaging Broaden Source Water Protection Understanding through Enhanced Information Collection and Sharing Forge Partnerships and Create Connections to Leverage Mutual Objectives Identify and Create Incentives for Source Water Protection Prioritize and Get to Work Selected Top Two Initiatives Formed Work Teams for Each Initiative Scheduled Team Meetings 5

6 Awards Program To recognize exemplary efforts to protect drinking water Awards Categories: Planning for ground water and surface water Implementation for ground water and surface water Education Leadership Timeline: Announce the Awards Program in Spring 2014 Deadline for Nominations is December 1, 2014 Present Awards in Spring 2015 Education Package Team To connect people with the value of clean drinking water Goal: Develop Education Tools Tailored to the Audience Provide Rationale for Why Provide Clear Ideas on How Targeted Audiences: Local Governments Educators General Assembly Business Decision Makers General Public Non-Government Organizations Ag Community State Agency Staff 6

7 Promotion Newsletters Listservs Conference Attendance Calling Card 7

8 Summary of Accomplishments Operating Structure Mission & Vision Member Organization Commitment Defined Objectives & Prioritized Initiatives Developed a Logo and Slogan Teams Working on Top Two Initiatives What s Next? Continue Work on the Two Initiatives Keep Promoting and Recruiting Work to Identify and Pursue Sources of Funding Promote the Collaborative Model to Other States 8

9 Amy Axon Drinking Water Protection Program Public Water Supply Section Division of Water Resources (919)