Collaboration: From Vision to Collaboration: From Vision to Watershed PlanWatershed Plan

Jim Renthal, DOI Field Coordinating Committee (Acting)Jim Renthal, DOI Field Coordinating Committee (Acting)

Border Institute VIII: Planning and Operating Trans-boundary Border Institute VIII: Planning and Operating Trans-boundary WatershedsWatersheds

Rio Rico, AZRio Rico, AZ

May 22-24, 2006May 22-24, 2006

There are watersheds…

…and there are watersheds.

Variation in:Variation in:

• Size

• Population

• Degree of Administrative-Geologic Boundary Overlap

• Resources and Issues

Moving from Vision to Trans-Border PlanMoving from Vision to Trans-Border Plan

• Have an infrastructure of groups, organizations, agencies (fed, state, local) with common vision and basic goals

We often do

• Have a common planning process

We usually do

Typical Land Use or WS Planning Sequence Typical Land Use or WS Planning Sequence

Evaluation, Adaptation

Scoping, Issue ID,Vision, Goals

Prepare WS Plan, Select Mgnt Actions

Monitoring Effectiveness of Practices,

Progress Toward Objectives

Set CommonObjectives

Moving from Vision to Trans-Border PlanMoving from Vision to Trans-Border Plan

• Have agreed upon body of factsWe do in many cases, or on-going

cooperative research • Have governments ready to support and

participate in joint planningOccasionally we do, but more often litigation, incompatible laws, differing objectives and priorities present

barriers

A Common Sequence of StepsA Common Sequence of Steps

• “Visioning Process” used by Tijuana River Watershed partners is similar

• ADEQ Watershed Planning Handbook for TMDLs, WS Restoration is also similar, but emphasizes adaptations, iterations

• Rio Mimbres Roadmap has similar features

Common Sequence Mimbres RoadmapCommon Sequence Mimbres Roadmap

• Scoping, Issue ID

• Common Vision, Goals

• Fact Finding

• Create Common Objectives

• Select Management Actions

• Monitor

• ID common interest issues

• Define joint planning strategies

• Growth, water use analyses

• Define Joint use prioritiz. & common wtr mgnt policies

• Joint water conser- vation programs;

exchange, share tech.• Monitor

A Common Sequence of StepsA Common Sequence of Steps

• Mimbres MOU: Emphasizes fact finding, data sharing (P. 7 a, b, c, f )

• Objectives & actions avoid conflict with emphasis on conservation projects (d, g, h)

• Defers articulation of more challenging common objectives ( e, g)

Interagency CooperationInteragency Cooperation

• Public land is often that land low on the watershed, many users, landowners, potential partners, effected interests

• Collaboration is essential

• Convened to resolve conflict

• Inclusive

Interagency CooperationInteragency Cooperation

• Environmental legislation requires cooperation:

* ESA -- Consultation

* CWA – Delegated authority

* NEPA – Public Participation

Interagency CooperationInteragency Cooperation

• DOI US-Mexico Field Coordinating Committee

• Border XXI – Border Protected Areas

• Southwest Strategy

• Watershed Councils and Partnerships

Current DOI-FCC Current DOI-FCC WatershedWatershed Planning Activities Planning Activities

• FCC and its member agencies helped organize and fund First Interagency Conference on Research in the Watersheds, held in Benson, Arizona, October 27-30, 2003.

• FCC, in partnership with the Southwest Strategy, in May 2004, printed and distributed copies of a “Synthesis of Ecological Activities along the U.S.-Mexico Border, Arizona-Sonora and California-Baja California,” and a “Synthesis of Vertebrate Studies along the U.S.-Mexico Border.”

• FCC supported and several of its members participated on the organizing committee for a Western Governors Association—USGS Drought Workshop held March 11-12, 2004 in Tempe, Arizona.

• Collaboration continued with Asociación Regional Ambiental de Sonora y Arizona, The Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, The Nature Conservancy, and others interested in environmental education and managing and protecting the water and other resources in the Upper San Pedro River Basin.

Interagency CooperationInteragency Cooperation

• Local Authority (delegation or abdication) is a common theme

• DOI embraces “bottom up” approach, “local solutions for local problems”

• Delegation of authority more difficult in international setting

Sustainable Water ResourcesSustainable Water Resources

• Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable- Interagency, NGO, academic task force

• Developing Indicators to advance knowledge and support decision-making

• Beyond the “future generation” definition

Sustainable Water Resources Sustainable Water Resources PrinciplesPrinciples

• Know value and limits of water

• Shared responsibility

• Equitable access

• Stewardship for today and the future

Sustainable Water Resources Sustainable Water Resources PrinciplesPrinciples

• 17 Canidate Indicators• Number 6: Social and Organizational Capacity

* Number of organizations dedicated to water and water-related education

* Number of states active in comprehensive water planning

* Number of states with regulations providing equal protection and access by all sectors to water resources

Sustaining the Flow of Watershed “Goods and Services”Sustaining the Flow of Watershed “Goods and Services”T

ime

Ecosystems-Watersheds Society

Social &EconomicDrivers:

EconomicDevelopment

Energy Production

and Use

Land Use

PopulationGrowth

Transportation

UnderlyingNatural

Processes:

Disturbance & Response

EnergyCycling

Hydrologic Cycle & Flow

Regime

Materials Cycling

The Biophysical Environment

Ecosystem

Goods &

Services

HumanAlterations &

Discharges