Collaboration in Watersheds

Building Successful Watershed Coalitions

John Wesley Powell

Gifford Pinchot

Looking Back

Why Water & Watersheds

• Humans are 65% water!

Water is Critical for:

• Agriculture

• Recreation

• Habitat

• Industry

About Me

About CUSP

MISSION

The Coalition for the Upper South Platte seeks to protect the water quality and ecological health of the Upper South Platte Watershed, through the cooperative efforts of watershed stakeholders,

with emphasis on community values and economic sustainability.

VISION

A Healthy Watershed – Now and in the Future

Brief early history

1996: Buffalo Creek Fire; Wild & Scenic; Source Water Protection

1997: Gov. entity stakeholders get together, sign MOU to form nonprofit

watershed group

1998: Incorporate, obtain 501(c)3; hire me

1999-2000: Develop strategic plan; Hi Meadow Fire; Upper South Platte Large-scale Restoration Project; hire Theresa

Springer

2002: Hayman Fire; staff grows to 6

Today

30 Employees

~$4,000,000 cash expenditures per year

~$1,000,000 in-kind and volunteer and resources per year

Watershed collaborative; forest collaborative; emergency response

collaborative

Support other NGOs, smaller entities

Collaboration1. Government entities do certain

things well, but2. They often don’t know how to work

on/with private landowners3. They are not nimble!!!

CollaborationSo other stakeholders need to be at the table, such as:

a.) Environmental groupsb.) Recreation interestsc.) Business ownersd.) Agriculturee.) Citizens

CollaborationAnd nonprofits

as partners are great at managing people and resources, leveraging funds, and creating a bridge in public-private partnerships!

The CUSP Template

• Board—Mixed; govt entities “own seats”; but not just govt! Up to 23 members, including reps for govt, environmental groups, recreations, interested citizens and businesses

• Not a “strong advocacy” group

• But—a “strong consensus” group

The CUSP Template• Utilize science-based decisions and adaptive management

• Work on variety of projects that fit the mission

• See the whole shed in watershed

• Strong management, and staff driven day-to-day operations within context of the plan

• Smart use of technology

CAROL EKARIUS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

COALITION FOR THE UPPER SOUTH PLATTEfirstname@uppersouthplatte.org

www.uppersouthplatte.org 38000 Cherokee Ave.

PO Box 726 Lake George, Co. 80827 719-748-0033

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS