Healthy Headwaters 13th Leadership Convening

Transcription

1 Healthy Headwaters 13th Leadership Convening Portland, Oregon March 15, 2018 On March 15, 2018, Carpe Diem West s Healthy Headwaters Leadership Team and a number of special guests met in a daylong meeting to: Increase our understanding of how the climate is warming Accelerate our ability to communicate VUCA to community leaders and decision makers Assess current policy and funding developments Develop our understanding and possible actions to address homelessness in watersheds Understand the role of beavers in watershed/forest health Assess the opportunities and challenges of engaging all water users in a river basin Identify emerging issues that need to be tracked Web Feet No More Water & Climate in the Pacific Northwest The day opened with Dr. Holly Hartmann who presented climate and hydrological models from the past decade. These models all indicated that not only have these models been correct, they were too conservative. The warming of the Pacific Northwest, and the planet as a whole means that snowpack, flow timing, etc., is actually proceeding much more quickly. Portland, Oregon Not only have all the climate models been correct, they've been too conservative. ~Dr. Holly Hartmann Climate Scientist 1

2 Mud Floods, Water Supply, & Public Health Following Dr. Hartmann s presentation, Kimery Wiltshire, Carpe Diem West and Kim Carr, National Forest Foundation delved into the Santa Rosa and Thomas Fires. The Thomas Fire is the largest fire, by acres, in modern history in California. These wildfires point to various disturbing trends: public health impacts (from toxic ash, smoke, etc.); unhealthy water supply; uncontrollable as the fires move from forested to urban areas; mud floods that contribute to loss of life, and more challenges to public health and water supply. More often there is short notice to evacuate for wildfire and mudslides. During high risk conditions, residents need to stay aware of high winds and flash floods to have time to get out safely. ~Kim Carr National Forest Foundation Communications The group then shifted from examining the distressing facts to communications strategies that everyone can use. Belinda Griswold of Resource Media led the discussion and work around effective communications. These are the highlights from the small group discussion and next steps identified: Be Prepared: Know that the next disaster is on its way, and prepare your solutions message well in advance. Build Support: Before the next disaster, build your community network so that there is more support for watershed protection solutions now, ready to be activated. Create Content: Extend the news cycle after a disaster, by working with friends, colleagues, and even independent journalists, to tell a story of solutions that can last after the big flash of catastrophe news coverage. A Cal Fire search and rescue crew searches for bodies through mud near homes damaged by storms in Montecito, Ca., Friday, Jan. 12, (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) Communications values that resonate: Primary Values Health Safety Family Prosperity Secondary Fairness Stewardship Transparency 2

3 Policy & Funding Team advisors from the US Forest Service provided updates: Polly Hays and Liz Berger reported on 16 concept proposals for almost all California National Forests, of which 144M acres are NEPA ready or very close. The State of California is putting in cap and trade funding toward this work. Ongoing challenge: who are the applicants that can pay for expenses up front (for eventual reimbursement.) Another challenge with this work is to reduce risk, not just focus on acres treated. They also noted the possible launch of a water fund for the Front Range. Thinking about decision support tools in this way is exciting! It speaks to values, not who has the best data. ~Dr. Holly Harmann Climate Scientist Mike Anderson, The Wilderness Society, gave a condensed federal legislation update, and some of the history, on the Fire Fix. (The Fire Fix legislation ended up being part of the Congressional Omnibus Bill, signed by the President the following week.) Todd Gartner, World Resources Institute, informed the group of a large pilot project in the Tahoe area on USFS lands being launched, with funds upfront for reimbursement. The big question: can the FS move things forward fast enough for everyone to stay engaged? Liz Berger reports that the Regional Forester and District Supervisor are committed. NEPA will be completed soon, and project implementation will begin the summer of Also, from Todd Gartner: to date, there have been only a small number of green water bond issuances. The World Resources Institute and a number of other organizations have developed a green bond standard that: Participants at the Healthy Headwaters 13th Leadership Convening Cannabis growers looking for water don t understand prior appropriations. ~Kristel Griffith Hillsboro Water Give confidence to utilities and investors that the water benefits are real Ensure that the bond proceeds go where they should and are, at a minimum, GHG neutral That projects are being developed in mind for adaptation and the new normal 3

4 (Post meeting, Todd reported that the bond standard will go public in April.) Ann Schwend from Montana s Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, reported on key outcomes from the National Drought Resiliency Partnership in the Missouri headwaters. The Partnership brought in $5.5M for on-the-ground restoration work, and helped establish a network of stakeholders in each watershed. Beavers Healthy Forests/Healthy Watersheds Another shift in agenda got people smiling as we looked at the impact beavers have on healthy forests and healthy watersheds. The Montana Water Summit brought together over 300 people to talk about watershed restoration and water supply funding and work in the time of climate change. ~Ann Schwend Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Sarah Bates, National Wildlife Federation, presented on their partnership with agencies and other organizations in the West exploring opportunities with public and private land managers to expand beaver habitat and beaver distribution. Sarah noted that long-standing research demonstrates that beavers can provide inexpensive, effective restoration by: Reconnecting the floodplain Recharging groundwater Improving late-season flows Mitigating for lost snowpack Increasing habitat complexity A North American beaver works on its dam in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming The next steps in this project: Outreach and education Montana events and field trips Presentations at the 2018 River Rally Workshop Ongoing advocacy Montana statewide plan National Forest Plans Habitat projects with partners Where beavers have become a nuisance, researchers and land managers cite a number of ways to address any problems including building structures that mimic the beavers dams. ~Sarah Bates National Wildlife Federation 4

5 No Home and Living in Watersheds Marian Rice, Salt Lake City Public Utilities, Kathleen Guillozet, Bonneville Environmental Foundation and Emily Brott, Our Family Services, led a discussion around the impacts of unhoused people living in watersheds that provide water supply. Water utilities are becoming increasingly concerned regarding the impacts on water quality and public safety (e.g. trash, human waste, unhealthy living environment and flooding.) One water agency staff person also spoke about being placed in the very uncomfortable position when, for example, a board member calls to demand call the police in and get those people moved out of our watershed! We re replicating broken models over and over again. ~Kathleen Guillozet Bonneville Environmental Foundation This was a deep, and at times tense discussion for the group, as misconceptions and prejudices about what it means to be homeless were carefully unpacked. The group agreed to: Do a lot more self and group education Explore how water utilities and community water decision makers can contribute to sustainable solutions that lead to more people having homes and safer environments, and then determine our network s role and contributions Willamette Future Project The new project launched by Carpe Diem West in conjunction with Eugene Water and Electric Board was introduced by Kimery Wiltshire, Karl Morgenstern and Nancy Toth, both of Eugene Water and Electric Board. The outcome of this two-year project is to develop a Willamette River drinking water protection plan and to identify priorities for funding. Homeless along the Jordan River UT In this group we can talk about challenging things together. It s a great model to bring together other groups. ~Mike McHugh Aurora Water Funded by a grant from the Willamette River Initiative of the Meyer Memorial Trust, this project, led by drinking water utility partners, will engage agriculture, emergency response and storm/waste water agencies. 5

6 Wrap-Up & Next Steps The group expressed great appreciation for the value of reframing issues - those around homelessness and watersheds, communication strategies, tools and policies. Excitement grew around possible new funding sources such as green water-bonds, and the start of new partnerships to jointly seek restoration and protection funding. As the group focused on the conversation around homelessness and watersheds, all agreed to develop a plan on how water utilities can effectively partner with public health and social service agencies along with churches and NGO s. Willamette River, Eugene OR As I ruminated on the meeting, it struck me that of all the many conferences and workshops I have attended, I have never heard more great ideas or made more excellent contacts that I did at the Healthy Headwaters meeting. ~Craig Harper City of Medford, Oregon The full meeting agenda, attendee list, and background material and PowerPoint presentations are available online. About Carpe Diem West About Healthy Headwaters Program 6