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Looking Glass River Watershed Management Plan - Greater ...

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7. Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty and critical<br />

environmental areas<br />

8. Provide a variety of transportation choices<br />

9. Strengthen and direct development towards existing communities<br />

10. Take advantage of compact development design<br />

Stakeholders who participated in the workshops consistently referred to the<br />

ten smart growth tenets but recognized that with regard to watershed<br />

management they encompass more than may be necessary for the WMPs<br />

purposes. Consequently, it was agreed that in the WMP any actions that<br />

were intended to mitigate developments’ impacts on waterways (e.g. BMPs<br />

like riparian buffers) would be referred to as “Water Quality Friendly<br />

Development.”<br />

Participants in the workshops also made the connection between surface<br />

water and groundwater; that they were two key components of the whole<br />

hydrologic cycle. As such, combining programs where appropriate only<br />

seems logical. It was recommended that the GLRC should look for ways to<br />

coordinate with groundwater protection initiatives and cooperate on grant<br />

applications.<br />

There was recognition by stakeholders of the need to be good neighbors due<br />

to potential upstream and downstream pollution impacts on water quality.<br />

This recognition was extended to rural areas too. Although NPDES<br />

permitting is only required for municipalities, it was felt there was a need to<br />

include the agricultural community. Stakeholders thought the best way to<br />

engage farmers was through existing agricultural programs (see Section 7).<br />

The current fiscal climate faced by municipalities dictates that they look for<br />

new and creative ways to deliver programming. Stakeholders recommended<br />

that municipalities and watershed committees look to form partnerships<br />

with existing organization to achieve their goals. Two examples of programs<br />

that have public service requirements in order for participants to achieve<br />

certification are MSU Extension’s “Master Gardner” and “Citizen <strong>Plan</strong>ner”<br />

programs.<br />

Benefits of Actions<br />

The permit requires an assessment of both the benefits and costs of the<br />

actions identified, although a “cost/benefit analysis” is not required. The<br />

costs associated with each action are identified in the Action <strong>Plan</strong> table. The<br />

benefit of each individual action is not specifically addressed but rather<br />

discussed in general terms because the ultimate goal of each action is really<br />

the same, i.e. to protect and improve the water resources in the watershed.<br />

The benefits of the actions associated with each goal are discussed in Table<br />

8-1.<br />

8-2 <strong>Looking</strong> <strong>Glass</strong> <strong>River</strong> <strong>Watershed</strong> April 2007

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