Advocating for conservation throughout the watershed – Strategic Framework for 2009 – 2011

Mission Statement:  To protect, restore and celebrate the St. Croix River and its watershed.

 

Guiding Principles

As we work with others in the watershed, we will:

• Act with thoughtful urgency.
• Take strategic action, focusing on and achieving results that make a difference.
• Respect, engage and leverage the passion of local people in their communities.
• Collaborate with and empower others instead of working alone.
• Recognize the watershed’s biological and cultural diversity in all respects.
• Conduct our work with a spirit of respect, transparency and openness.
• Enhance the work of the National Park Service, the states of Minnesota and Wisconsin and locally based groups working to protect the St Croix, the Namekagon and the watershed.
• Seek sustainable solutions that contribute to a thriving watershed.
• Foster new initiatives.

 

Our Core Functions

In recent years, we’ve seen a surge of interest, with citizens and organizations stepping up to do their part for the river. However, current efforts are often fragmented and lacking in the resources needed to be effective. The SCRA is the only existing organization with a watershed-wide scope able to focus on both sides of the river and both the upper and lower portions of the basin. The SCRA is positioning itself to influence for the significant resources needed to achieve results.

We will work in partnership with others, to perform the following core functions:

Land conservation: We work to protect and restore important natural and scenic areas along the river and throughout the watershed by partnering with land protection organizations.

Water quality protection: We focus on improving water quality, recognizing its interconnection with land use.

River corridor and watershed stewardship: We engage people in educational, recreational and volunteer stewardship activities that give them the understanding and motivation to advocate at the local, state and national levels on behalf of the river’s values.

Celebration: The St. Croix River watershed is a national treasure. We live, work and play in the St. Croix River watershed because we love the place, and we celebrate that love at every opportunity.

 

Strategic Goals

• Advocate on behalf of river and watershed protection in a variety of forums.
• Mobilize a broad-based constituency of support for the river and watershed.
• Inform and educate about watershed stewardship.
• Celebrate success.
• Secure resources to sustain our work and achieve goals.
• Build a strong organization.

 

Goals and Strategies

1. Advocate for river and watershed protection.

Strategies:

a. Prioritize and advocate for lands in need of protection in cooperation with the St. Croix Conservation Collaborative and other land protection organizations.

b. Ensure protection of existing public lands and conservation easements and seek to expand them by working with land protection organizations.

c. Work with local units of government to develop and implement conservation and sustainability-based planning, zoning and administration, including workshops for local officials.

d. Monitor and intervene, where necessary, to ensure appropriate land use decisions at all levels – landowner, local, state and federal.

e. Reduce phosphorous and sediment inputs to the River by supporting implementation of the St. Croix Basin Water Resources Planning Team’s Water Quality plan.

f. Create and maintain a legal action team.

 

2. Mobilize a broad-based constituency of support.

Strategies:

a. Work to enhance the St. Croix National and Scenic Riverway.

b. Support the development of more tributary citizen groups throughout the watershed.

c. Educate and engage individuals in local land use decisions.

d. Develop and implement programs to engage a broad base of members and volunteers in specific conservation activities.

e. Develop additional alternatives for building support among organizations, businesses and individuals, including membership and volunteer programming.

 

3. Inform and educate on watershed stewardship.

Strategies:

a. Create and implement a communications plan (e.g. website, newsletter, public relations campaign, etc.)

b. Work with existing organizations to identify gaps that need to be addressed through new initiatives.

c. Develop sub-watershed demonstration projects showcasing management practices that protect water quality.

d. Explore and assist in the development of an effort to provide education and visitor experiences on the river and in the watershed modeled after similar programs at other units of the National Park Service.

e. Promote understanding that watershed protection goes hand-in-hand with support for sustainable community development, sustainable and community-based agriculture, eco-tourism and preservation of community character.

 

4. Celebrate success.

a. The SCRA will report to stakeholders on an annual basis the “State of the Watershed,” celebrating our successes, and recognizing conservation leaders in the region who have helped us achieve results. Based upon recent partner feedback, we will evaluate the best vehicle and venue(s) for sharing this information and acknowledging successful programs and people.

b. Host celebrations for specific achievements that support the mission and goals.

c. Recognize individuals and organizations making major contributions to the protection and restoration of the St. Croix River and its watershed.

 

5. Provide resources to sustain our work.

Strategies:

a. Based on a comprehensive fundraising plan, develop a broad base of financial support from individuals, foundations and businesses.

b. Advocate for increased federal, state and local support for the St. Croix National Scenic Riverway.

c. Advocate for increased federal, state and local support for land protection throughout the watershed.

d. Seek project funding in cooperation with our partners.

e. Identify and implement earned revenue strategies such as product sales and fee-for-service work.

 

6. Build a strong organization.

Strategies:

a. Recruit, train and sustain a strong Board of Directors.

b. Recruit, train and support an excellent staff.

c. Explore the development of a respected Board of Advisors and affiliates as appropriate.

d. Establish the policies necessary to guide the work of the organization, including operating plans, budgets, job descriptions, bylaws, conflict of interest policies, among others.

e. Build our organization’s brand as an effective central player in St. Croix River watershed conservation activity.

f. Develop cooperative relationships with existing conservation organizations by:

1. Supporting and complimenting their work, not duplicating or replacing.
2. Promoting open communication, collaboration and partnerships.
3. Create new programs and projects only for those key issues that can not be better addressed by other organizations.