Building Relationships with the Forest Service for Successful Transportation Projects Caring for the...

Building Relationships with the Building Relationships with the Forest Service for Successful Forest Service for Successful

Transportation Projects Transportation Projects

Caring for the Land and Caring for the Land and Serving PeopleServing People

Presentation OverviewPresentation Overview

1) The Forest Service –WYDOT Liaison Program 1) The Forest Service –WYDOT Liaison Program 2) Forest Service 1012) Forest Service 101

3) Federal Land Transfer & Land Use on National 3) Federal Land Transfer & Land Use on National ForestsForests

4) Success Stories - Relationships Create Opportunities.4) Success Stories - Relationships Create Opportunities.

1)1) The Forest Service The Forest Service and WYDOT WYDOT

RelationshipsRelationships and Problem Solving and Problem Solving Wyoming StyleWyoming Style (Past)(Past)

What Ailed Us -What Ailed Us - How Did We Get Here?How Did We Get Here?

Long time without working togetherLong time without working together

Low level of trust & cooperation Low level of trust & cooperation

Poor communicationPoor communication

Cultural differences and misunderstandingCultural differences and misunderstanding

Disagreement on roles and responsibilitiesDisagreement on roles and responsibilities

Conflict produced stalemate instead of solutions Conflict produced stalemate instead of solutions

1) “Liaison” PPT1) “Liaison” PPT

2) Forest Service 1012) Forest Service 101

3) Federal Land Transfer and 3) Federal Land Transfer and Land Use Land Use

Appreciative Inquiry -Appreciative Inquiry -

Ask one another, “What are we doing Ask one another, “What are we doing well in our relationship or in this process well in our relationship or in this process together?” “How can we do more of together?” “How can we do more of that?”that?”

Do more of that.Do more of that.

Naming Elephants - Naming Elephants -

Identify the elephants (undiscussables) Identify the elephants (undiscussables) that are in the “room” (i.e., in the that are in the “room” (i.e., in the relationship or the process).relationship or the process).

Figure out how to deal with and Figure out how to deal with and overcome them.overcome them.

Change the Dynamic

A B

From...

To...

A B

Interests

Interest vs. Positional NegotiationInterest vs. Positional Negotiation

What’s Changed?What’s Changed?

Significant “investment” in our relationshipSignificant “investment” in our relationship

Improved understanding & communicationImproved understanding & communication

Liaisons link agenciesLiaisons link agencies

Paradigm shift to collaborative ethicParadigm shift to collaborative ethic

““Interest-based” approach to conflict resolution Interest-based” approach to conflict resolution rather than “position-based”rather than “position-based”

Greater trust & integration in projectsGreater trust & integration in projects

FS/WYDOT Success Stories:FS/WYDOT Success Stories:

Cooperative work creates snowball effect Cooperative work creates snowball effect

Mutual support ( e.g., NGO relationships)Mutual support ( e.g., NGO relationships)

Greater understanding & willingness to listen Greater understanding & willingness to listen (e.g., help us understand “connectivity”)(e.g., help us understand “connectivity”)

Project collaboration (e.g., road design & project Project collaboration (e.g., road design & project input, wildlife connectivity, crossing structures) input, wildlife connectivity, crossing structures)

Integration of TrainingIntegration of Training

Renewal of Liaison program agreementsRenewal of Liaison program agreements

4) “Success Stories” PPT 4) “Success Stories” PPT

In Summary, Interagency In Summary, Interagency Effectiveness is achieved thru …Effectiveness is achieved thru …

CommunicationCommunication

RelationshipsRelationships

ProcessProcess

Help – our relationship is out of control!!Help – our relationship is out of control!!

Quick, somebody hire a Liaison!Quick, somebody hire a Liaison!

Steady. We’re all in this together.Steady. We’re all in this together.

USFS / WYDOT Liaison USFS / WYDOT Liaison Contact Info:Contact Info:

Rick ClarkRick Clark Office: (307) 777-3697Office: (307) 777-3697 richardclark@fs.fed.usrichardclark@fs.fed.us

Darin MartensDarin Martens Office: (307) 739-5522Office: (307) 739-5522 darinmartens@fs.fed.usdarinmartens@fs.fed.us