US Army Corps of Engineers. Watershed Authorities, Policies and Procedures BUILDING STRONG. Michael Greer

Transcription

1 US Army Corps of Engineers Watershed Authorities, Policies and Procedures Michael Greer Regional Technical Specialist Buffalo District 23 June 2011 US Army Corps of Engineers BUILDING STRONG

2 Increasing Demands for: Integrated problem solving Studies and projects that address multiple purposes and interests Inclusive processes that engage stakeholders Collaborative partnerships -w/multiple players (to leverage and address interconnectedness) System approaches that address interconnectedness of projects, activities, players BUILDING STRONG

3 In CW Watershed Planning Think problem solving, not projects Identifying actions and priorities involves more than projects - Program integration for better problem solving, and greater implementation synergies w/in Corps and w/others Integrate all Corps programs in the watershed existing project management and operation, rehab, DMMPs, Regulatory activities, studies BUILDING STRONG

4 Corps Watershed Guidance and Policy Planning Guidance Letter No. 97-8, Watershed Management, Restoration and Development, dated 3 July 1997 (Section 503 0f WRDA 96) PGL 61 - Application of a Watershed Perspective to Corps of Engineers Civil Works Programs and Activities (27 Jan 1999) Implementation Memo for Sec 202, WRDA Watershed and River Basin Assessments, 29 May 2001, Amended Sec 729 of WRDA 86 Implementation Memo for Section 2010 of WRDA 2007 Watershed and River Assessments, March 7, Also amended Section 729 of WRDA 86 ER (Planning Guidance Notebook, 22 April 2000) - Including Appendix F revision #2, dated 31 January 2007 BUILDING STRONG 4

5 Corps Watershed Guidance and Policy Section 22 of WRDA 74, as amended by Section 2013 of WRDA 07 Appendix G of ER EC , Planning in a Collaborative Environment (projects) Section 5002 of WRDA 2007, Watershed Management (no guidance yet) EC dated 15 January 2010 Annual Budget EC BUILDING STRONG 5

6 Watershed Principles PGL #61 Sustainability Coordinated planning and management Interagency cooperation Leveraging resources/program integration Interdisciplinary teams Public Involvement Trade-off evaluation Forecast future water resource demands Adaptive Management BUILDING STRONG 6

7 Planning in a Collaborative Environment EC To enhance collaborative approach to water resources management Watershed / system vs. site specific Multiple purposes / multiple partnerships To integrate others expertise, programs and financial support/leveraging of resources To fully utilize flexibility and authority of Principles and Guidelines Applies to project development in a watershed context (New Principles and Guidelines will reflect these concepts) BUILDING STRONG 7

8 EC Watershed Plans Provides guidance on watershed planning for Integrated Water Resources Management Emphasizes Systems Approach, Collaboration (Partnerships), Leveraging of Resources, Larger Geographic Areas Follows Six Step CW Planning Process Framework Output Watershed or Strategic Plan May identify potential Corps projects for further study Have an interim Assessment (Study) Agreement Model BUILDING STRONG 8

9 EC Watershed Plans Watershed Planning for IWRM - Identifies needs from any source - Develops a joint vision of a desired end state regardless of agency responsibility - Identifies potential Corps projects consistent with mission areas - Uses Corps planning capability to facilitate collaborative planning to identify technically sound, environmentally sustainable, and economically efficient means to achieve multiple goals. BUILDING STRONG 9

10 Systems Approach EC Watershed Plans - Many competing demands and systems in a watershed - Land and water resources - Cumulative effects of any action in the system must be considered - Achieve interdependent, long term holistic solutions BUILDING 10 STRONG

11 EC Watershed Plans Public Involvement, Collaboration, and Coordination - Three related but different activities - Purpose of all three is to maintain open channels of communication - Appendix B of ER Shared Vision Planning - CEQ Handbook - Corps cannot relinquish its statutory decision-making responsibility BUILDING 11 STRONG

12 Leverage Resources EC Watershed Plans - Allow Federal and non-federal programs to work together over time - Share data, expertise, program, and funding with other Federal, State, Tribal and local governments - Use limited resources in a more integrated fashion to achieve a greater sum BUILDING 12 STRONG

13 EC Watershed Plans Follow Six Step Planning Process Framework - Define Study Area - Identify Problems and Opportunities - Inventory and Forecast Conditions - Evaluate and Compare Alternative Approaches (2 steps) - Plan or Strategy Selection BUILDING 13 STRONG

14 Benefit Evaluations Cost Estimates Engineering EC Watershed Plans NEPA and Environmental Compliance Real Estate Data Quality and Model Quality Assurance BUILDING 14 STRONG

15 EC Watershed Plans Study Process - Initial Assessment to identify a non-federal sponsor and to define the scope, objective of the watershed study, prepare a Watershed Assessment Management Plan and negotiate a cost sharing agreement - $100, Assessment is cost shared 75%/25% and sponsors may contribute their share in kind. - Must have a Review Plan - A non-profit may be a non-federal sponsor - Interim 729 Assessment Agreement available - Review and approval at HQUSACE - Potential Corps projects must compete as feasibility new start BUILDING 15 STRONG

16 NOTE!! Watershed study a study to plan a better way to manage water (and other) resources in a watershed (a watershed plan) Watershed approach or system approach are applicable to all projects, programs and activities Integrative, collaborative, multi-objective, interdependencies considered BUILDING 16 STRONG

17 FY 12 BUDGET EC March 2010 Watershed studies key attributes: Identify a combination of recommended actions (a Watershed Management Plan) to be undertaken by various partners and stakeholders in order to achieve local, tribal, regional, and national water resources management goals identified in the study and may or may not identify further budgetable Corps studies or implementation projects. Require team thinking about water resources development and management in the context of multiple purposes rather than single purposes, and, thus, facilitates the search for comprehensive and integrated solutions. Improve opportunities for public and private groups to identify and achieve common goals by unifying on-going and future efforts and leveraging resources. Leverage resources, including cost shared collaboration, and integrates programs and activities within and among Civil Works programs, and with other Federal, tribal state and nongovernmental organizations, to improve consistency and cost effectiveness; BUILDING STRONG

18 FY 12 BUDGET EC March 2010 Watershed studies are planning initiatives that have a multi-purpose and multi-objective scope and accommodate flexibility and collaboration in the planning process. As a minimum, the study area must encompass the region of an 8 digit HUC. Following the reconnaissance study, a study may proceed as a watershed assessment (75/25) under Section 729 of WRDA 86, as amended, or as a feasibility study accomplished in a watershed context in accordance with the standard feasibility study process (50/50). BUILDING STRONG

19 Section 729 of WRDA 86, as amended by Sec 202 WRDA 2000 and Section 2010 of WRDA 07 Examine needs relating to: Ecosystem protection & restoration; flood damage reduction, navigation & ports; watershed protection; water supply; drought preparedness Cooperate w/ Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, EPA Consult w/ tribal, state & local govt entities Cost Sharing 75/25; in-kind credit allowed Original Guidance Memo 29 May 2001 (continued) BUILDING 19 STRONG

20 Section 729 of WRDA 86, as amended by Sec 202 WRDA 2000 and Section 2010 of WRDA 07 Products can be: Plans or management documents that identify actions to be taken by partners and stakeholders to meet the objectives of the plan, Not just projects recommended for Corps implementation. New Guidance in EC BUILDING 20 STRONG

21 Watershed Planning Corps Vision All NGO s Think problem solving, not projects. Stakeholders collaborate by sharing their: Tribes State Agencies Federal Agencies Leveraged Resources (Federal, State, and Local) Experience Resources Data Tools Skills in order to develop a multi-purpose Strategic Watershed Plan BUILDING STRONG

22 Watershed Planning Corps Planning Pathways Corps Involvement Level Corps as the Lead Stakeholder Corps as Participating Stakeholder Initial Watershed Assessment (Reconnaissance-like) Traditional Reconnaissance Study (Watershed Approach Using EC-409) Skills Experience Tools Data Participate as Needed Final Watershed Assessment (Feasibility-like) Potential Project Spin-offs Traditional Feasibility Study Authorities Potential Project Spin-offs Watershed Process Watershed Plan Report with Recommendations Watershed Management Plan Report for Information to Congress Corps Project for Design & Construction No Additional Corps Involvement (Participate in Updates) Watershed Path Project Path Technical Support BUILDING 22 Path STRONG

23 Why Watershed Plans Fail to Achieve Desired Goals Planning activities conducted at too great of a scale Plan was a one-time study rather than long-term management process Lack of stakeholder involvement and ownership Skirting of real land use/management issues Plan was too long or complex Recommendations were too general Failure to identify and address conflicts Source: Center for Watershed Protection BUILDING STRONG