Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District. Strategic Plan

Transcription

1 Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District Strategic Plan Adopted September 6, 2012

2 Goals and Objectives In March of 2012 the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District (District) Board of Supervisors conducted a strategic planning workshop to outline their vision. Five key goals where identified to guide the work of the District. Staff refined these goals into strategies that will shape how we meet the goals over time. The District will continue to monitor success and share experiences to create an efficient, effective and responsive local unit of government for the citizens of Dakota County. Vision CLEAN WATER AND HEALTHY SOIL Mission PARTNERS IN LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION 2

3 Goal 1 - Collaboration and Financial Stability The District will pursue and advance partnerships to implement programs and activities. The District is governed by five Dakota County citizens that are elected to four year terms and are responsible for developing policies of the District. Under Minnesota State Statute the District has no land use or taxing authorities. In 2012 the District managed 36 grants and agreements with State agencies and other local units of government. SEEK NEW STATE APPROPRIATIONS Example: Pursue a new State funding equation that better addresses required operational expenses and conservation delivery. DELIVER QUALITY SERVICE Example: Retain qualified and well trained staff to generate agreements with others for conservation delivery. EVALUATE NEW COLLABORATION OPTIONS WITH DAKOTA COUNTY Example: Pursue new options to evaluate administrative efficiencies associated with human resources. PLAN WELL FOR HUMAN RESOURCES NEEDS Example: Develop annual staff plans that balance workload with anticipated revenue and create internal and external training opportunities. WATERSHED PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION Example: Expand partnerships with watershed authorities to assist with watershed management planning and capital improvement programs. 3

4 Goal 2 - Protect Surface Water Quality The District will help people help the Land. PROVIDE QUALITY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE Example: Develop cost effective and site appropriate conservation practices. Go the District s web home page and click on the interactive map to see installed conservation practices Conservation practices installed through the District s various cost share programs must meet specific design criteria. PURSUE COMPETITIVE GRANTS Example: Link water quality improvement projects to implementation strategies of comprehensive plans or watershed plans. DEVELOP RESEARCH PROJECTS Example: Provide leadership in evaluating new innovations and conservation trends. ASSIST WITH REGULATORY PROGRAMS Example: Conduct site inspections and provide landowner information leaving the pursuit of enforcement to those with appropriate land use or legal authority. Dakota County has 33 townships and cities each with its own land use authority. RESPONSIVE TO LANDOWNER AND PUBLIC NEEDS Example: Develop voluntary conservation programs that encourage landowner participation while maintaining appropriate use of public funds. 4

5 Goal 3 - Civic Engagement and Public Outreach The District will be a catalyst in bringing communities and people together to protect natural resources. Since 2008 and in partnership with Dakota County Watershed Management Organizations, over 2,000 residents have participated in District workshops focused on backyard conservation. The Mississippi Makeover Project was a civic engagement project sponsored by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. More information available at: ww.dakotaswcd.org/ wshd_missmak.html CREATE OPPORTUNTY FOR PUBLIC INPUT Example: Ensure a transparent organization that offers opportunity for public participation and feedback. GATHER FACTS GATHER PEOPLE Example: Conduct workshops through partnerships to explain benefits of conservation and encourage implementation. ENGAGE CITIZENS USING NEW TECHNOLOGIES Example: Evaluate the use of new web based technologies and opportunities to inform the public. RECOGNIZE LANDOWNER ACCOMPLISHMENTS Example: Create a web site that actively displays the good conservation work that landowners have implemented. SERVE AS INFORMATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE Example: Be responsive in assisting the public and other local units of government in providing program information or points of contact. 5

6 Goal 4 - Involvement in Watershed Planning The District will provide administrative or technical assistance to watershed authorities as feasible and requested. Under the Metropolitan Surface Water Management Act, Dakota County has six watershed management organizations to include: Black Dog WMO Gun Club Lake WMO Lower MN River WD Lower Miss. R. WMO North Cannon R. WMO Vermillion River JPO PROVIDE ADMINSTRATIVE ASSISTANCE Example: Provide organizational leadership to Dakota County watershed authorities as requested. WORK TOGETHER TO IMPLEMENT CONSERVATION Example: Link similar organizational goals and implementation strategies to install land and water conservation projects. PROVIDE WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY INFORMATION Example: Gather and synthesize data to evaluated trends and assist with the stressor identification process for local watersheds. MONITOR THE TMDL IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS Example: Provide input to the practicality of achieving TMDL goals under a voluntary implementation concept. IMPLEMENTATION Example: Assist with updating land cover and other GIS applications to provide up-to-date information and identifying program focus areas. 6

7 Goal 5 - Land and Habitat Protection The District will promote soil health and plant diversity Healthy soils produce organisms that break down compaction and greatly increase water infiltration which reduces runoff to our streams. Five Soil Health Principles: 1. Minimize soil disturbance - both physical and chemical disturbance 2. Keep the soil covered with plants and plant residue 3. Maximize diversity of plants in a rotation ENCOURAGE SOIL HEALTH PRINCIPLES Example: Promote plant diversity and retention of plant residue through less soil disturbance. SUPPORT USE OF NATIVE PLANTS Example: Develop landowner planting recommendations and maintenance plans that improved the potential for successful establishment of native plants. PURSUE WETLAND RESTORATION OPPORTUNITIES Example: Develop new funding options that promote voluntary restoration of aquatic plants and water retention capabilities on the landscape. ENCOURAGE IMPLEMENTATION OF VEGETATED FILTER STRIPS Example: Evaluate various incentives and program options that create landowner flexibility while maintaining water quality and habitat goals. HABITAT IMPROVEMENTS Example: Partner with local fish and wildlife organizations and other nonprofits to enhance habitat on public and private land. 4. Keep living roots in the soil as much as possible 5. Create a favorable habitat for the soil food web 7