Watershed Conservation Plan - Destination Erie

development, and pre-emptive conservation measures can provide the means for our community to adapt to
the climate change problem.
Plan Enactment Steps and Actions
The first important steps that must be taken are to educate stakeholders—that is, the general public,
environmental groups, and municipal leaders—about the needs and means for achieving the goals of this plan
(see Table 10.2, Objectives 1–3) and to promote the formation of community partnerships to implement the
plan. To facilitate broad-based partnerships through outreach, the Pennsylvania Lake Erie watershed has been
divided into three different zones and eighteen distinct management areas (MAs) evincing shared topographic
and resource features (chapter 10, section 10.4). Initial outreach sessions to introduce the plan to stakeholders
will be held at five different locations central to multiple groups of management areas that cut across the
boundaries of subwatersheds and municipalities. It is hoped that this will help to promote the formation of
collaborations of watershed groups, municipalities, and interested private landowners to work together to
implement the plan. A timetable and suggested names of groups to conduct outreach are identified in Table
10.3 of the plan. Specific outreach needs include:
• Conduct outreach meetings with stakeholders to present major findings and recommendations of the
Rivers Conservation Plan, to identify partners and roles for implementation, coordinated with Act 167
Phase 2 planning and/or other water-related regional planning activities.
• Conduct outreach workshops with stakeholders regarding the importance of protecting headwaters,
forests, and wetlands; provide information about conservation easements, BMPs, and programs
providing funding or other assistance.
• Conduct outreach workshops with stakeholders on sustainable lawn care and gardening practices,
highlighting the potential impact of chemicals on aquatic resources, wildlife, and human health; provide
practical guidance on sustainable lawn, garden, and farm management and applicable BMPs.
• Conduct outreach workshops to prospective business and home owners, municipal officers, and
developers about the importance of sustainable development for aquatic and natural resources; provide
training on smart growth principles and practical guidance for implementation of conservation design
as the new standard for development in suburban areas.
• Conduct outreach workshops for school teachers and environmental educators regarding the utilization
of local scenic streams, forests, and wetlands to increase public awareness of nature and conservation
principles, and generate community support and ownership of the resources.
• Conduct outreach workshops for school teachers and historical education organizations regarding the
utilization of stream-associated historical resources (former mill and canal sites, etc.) to increase public
awareness of the significance of these resources, and generate community support to improve historical
education and preservation programs.
• Conduct outreach workshops for school teachers and environmental educators regarding the importance
of energy conservation, water conservation, and renewable energy, as fundamental means of mitigating
for future climate change and promoting conservation of our aquatic and natural resources.
• Conduct outreach workshops to government agency, and municipal leaders, as well as key leaders of
organizations that manage resources likely affected by climate change (Port Authority, Water Authority,
marina operators, fish and game managers, etc.) regarding the anticipated impact of future climate
change on water-related community infrastructure and associated economic issues. Provide guidance
on all available means to mitigate for the adverse effects of climate change, in addition to models of how
vii