Watershed Protection Plan - Lower Rio Grande Valley Development ...

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH
Arroyo Colorado Watershed and the Lower Rio
Grande Valley. This type of model has been
a very successful educational tool with the
Nueces River Authority. Students get a close-up,
bird’s eye view of the watershed, and through
some simple activities with the model, begin to
understand the connectivity between the land
and water systems.
• Reach out to area science teachers through
the regional education service center to provide
basic facts about the ACW Partnership and offer
them options for school projects they can do to
raise awareness and interest among students
about the Arroyo Colorado.
• Provide print materials to distribute to students
and families.
• Create an affi nity interest group to meet at
least twice yearly to share lesson plans and
brainstorm ideas for educating students about
water quality in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (this
may be done in partnership with other ecological
interest groups).
• Check science and geography textbooks to
ensure the Laguna Madre is placed in its proper
context. For example, textbooks calling bodies
of water like the Laguna Madre “bayous” or
“bays” may not be relevant to Valley students,
who understand “Laguna” but may not know that
ecologically it is the same as a “bay.” Use this
kind of insight in work with teachers and afterschool
coordinators to enhance interest in the
work of the ACW Partnership.
V. Micro-campaign Target Audience E:
Influentials
Infl uentials are people in the community who either
make decisions because they are elected or paid to
do so, or who infl uence decision makers because they
have high public exposure, status, money, or the power
of the press behind them. Infl uentials in the Rio Grande
Valley area impacting Arroyo Colorado issues may
include:
• Elected offi cials such as county commissioners
and city council members, state legislators or
congressional representatives
• Members of the news media, such as editors or
newspaper, television or radio reporters
• Business and community leaders with a high
profi le in community affairs
• Leaders of service organizations such as Junior
League, Rotary Club, Knights of Columbus, or
the various Chambers of Commerce
• Clergymen or women with a high community
profi le, or who frequently speak on issues of
concern to the community.
Infl uentials interviewed for E&O research showed
a range of knowledge about the Arroyo Colorado,
ranging from very little to very informed; some were
familiar with the Partnership effort, others were not.
Most indicated an interest in this issue, but cautioned
that their constituencies may have higher priorities. A
major difference between infl uentials and the general
audience interviewed in the telephone survey is they
are signifi cantly more likely to get their news from
newspapers.
Objectives:
• Seek frequent media contact to ensure the ACW
Partnership is making news.
• Continue to meet one-on-one or in small groups
of infl uentials to ensure they are aware and kept
apprised of the progress of the ACW Partnership.
• As awareness is raised of the Arroyo Colorado
initiative, communicate its progress through a
variety of media, including television, local radio
talk shows, Internet and e-bulletins, etc.
Arroyo Colorado TMDL kickoff event 1998
• Continue to speak to service clubs throughout
the Valley and speak about the state of the
Arroyo Colorado and its impact on business,
January 2007 99 Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Plan