Amanda Bassow
Goals, Threats and Metrics (Oh My!) Amanda Bassow, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation January 23, 2017 1
Agenda Phase I Evaluation Feedback
Goal Development
Threats Assessment
Theory of Change
Measuring Performance and Outcomes
2
Phase I Evaluation Feedback Is it about fish or drinking water?
What’s the GOAL?
Yes! How do grant criteria relate to a goal?
How do I know if my project “counts”?
How are we going to measure progress?
Do we have a goal? With metrics! 3
Goal Development: Everything for Everyone
4
Goal Development: What Can We Achieve?
5
Watersheds that provide high quality and sufficient water quantity for healthy ecosystems and human communities
6
Threats Assessment Point source discharge Acid mine drainage
Incompatible stewardship ethic
Organizations and agencies working in isolation
Lack of understanding of watershed systems
Lack (and awareness) of economic and policy incentives for maintaining watershed health Incompatible sub/urbanization • Lack of helpful ordinances, zoning, & growth mgmt • Lack of green stormwater mgmt
Energy infrastructure
Incompatible agricultural practices • Livestock mgmt • Barnyard mgmt • Nutrient & chemical mgmt • Farmed riparian areas • Crop practices • Water runoff mgmt • Inefficient irrigation
Development/growth impacts: • Water runoff mgmt • Impervious surfaces • Improperly functioning septic systems • Water withdrawals • Incompatible recreation and resource use • Land conversion
Dams, barriers
Nutrient, sediment, chemical, bacteria pollutants (including stormwater)
Poor water quality
Altered hydrology Impacts to the natural flow regime
Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation
Watersheds that provide sufficient clean water to support healthy human communities and natural ecosystems
Reduced natural cover and functionality (e.g., high temperatures) Key Contributing Factors Direct Threats Ecosystem stressors Conservation Target
7
Theory of Change
Collaborate
Use Science
Target
Implement
Inform
Impact 8
Theory of Change
Collaborate
Use Science
Target
Implement
Inform
Impact 9
Implement
Inform
Impact
10
Metrics: Keep It Simple • • • •
Strategies Acres Stream Miles People Money
Outcomes • Pollution Reduced • Stormwater Reduced • Improved Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI)
11
Collaborate
Use Science
Target
Implement
Inform
Within focus areas. As opposed to Clusters.
Impact
Within focus areas and throughout Clusters.
As opposed to Delaware River Basin.
12
Metrics for Land Protection Strategies • miles of forested buffer protected through longterm easement or acquisition within focus areas • acres of priority forestlans protected within focus areas • # of landowners reached within focus areas
Improved Incentives and Understanding • # of municipalities within focus areas that improve planning, zoning, codes, ordinances and programs to promote land protection that is protective of water quality • Change throughout Clusters in knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of land use planners and decisionmakers
Outcomes •
% of streams with permanently protected buffers within focus areas and within Clusters
•
% of active river area that is permanently protected for 1st, 2nd and 3rd order streams within focus areas and within Clusters
13
Metrics for Stormwater Improved Incentives and Understanding Strategies • acres of urban and suburban lands within focus areas treated by green SW infrastructure • acres within focus areas treated by pollution prevention practices • # of landowners reached within focus areas
• # of municipalities within focus areas with dedicated funding for stormwater management • # of municipalities within focus areas that improve planning, zoning, codes, ordinances and programs to promote green SW infrastructure and pollution prevention practices
Outcomes • Increase in # of landowners and land managers throughout Clusters who use green stormwater infrastructure and pollution prevention practices to managed polluted runoff
• Change throughout Clusters in knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of practitioners and decisionmakers
14
Metrics for Agriculture Strategies • Acres of ag land with BMPs within focus areas • Miles of forested buffer restored within focus areas • Acres of wetlands enhanced/restored within focus areas • # of landowners reached within focus areas • $$ of Farm Bill funding leveraged within focus areas
Improved Incentives and Understanding • # of municipalities within focus areas that improve codes, ordinances and policies to incentivize conservation on ag lands • Change throughout Clusters in knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of key influencers in agicultural conservation
Outcomes • Increase in # of farmers and/or farm landowners throughout Clusters adopting conservation practices
15
Ecological and Water Outcomes
Metrics • Pollution Reduced • Stormwater Reduced • Improvement in IBI
16
Delaware River Watershed Initiative: Goals, Threats and Metrics (Oh My!) Amanda Bassow Director, Northeastern Regional Office National Fish and Wildlife Foundation [email protected] January 23, 2017
17
Agenda Phase I Evaluation Feedback
Goal Development
Threats Assessment
Theory of Change
Measuring Performance and Outcomes
2
Phase I Evaluation Feedback Is it about fish or drinking water?
What’s the GOAL?
Yes! How do grant criteria relate to a goal?
How do I know if my project “counts”?
How are we going to measure progress?
Do we have a goal? With metrics! 3
Goal Development: Everything for Everyone
4
Goal Development: What Can We Achieve?
5
Watersheds that provide high quality and sufficient water quantity for healthy ecosystems and human communities
6
Threats Assessment Point source discharge Acid mine drainage
Incompatible stewardship ethic
Organizations and agencies working in isolation
Lack of understanding of watershed systems
Lack (and awareness) of economic and policy incentives for maintaining watershed health Incompatible sub/urbanization • Lack of helpful ordinances, zoning, & growth mgmt • Lack of green stormwater mgmt
Energy infrastructure
Incompatible agricultural practices • Livestock mgmt • Barnyard mgmt • Nutrient & chemical mgmt • Farmed riparian areas • Crop practices • Water runoff mgmt • Inefficient irrigation
Development/growth impacts: • Water runoff mgmt • Impervious surfaces • Improperly functioning septic systems • Water withdrawals • Incompatible recreation and resource use • Land conversion
Dams, barriers
Nutrient, sediment, chemical, bacteria pollutants (including stormwater)
Poor water quality
Altered hydrology Impacts to the natural flow regime
Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation
Watersheds that provide sufficient clean water to support healthy human communities and natural ecosystems
Reduced natural cover and functionality (e.g., high temperatures) Key Contributing Factors Direct Threats Ecosystem stressors Conservation Target
7
Theory of Change
Collaborate
Use Science
Target
Implement
Inform
Impact 8
Theory of Change
Collaborate
Use Science
Target
Implement
Inform
Impact 9
Implement
Inform
Impact
10
Metrics: Keep It Simple • • • •
Strategies Acres Stream Miles People Money
Outcomes • Pollution Reduced • Stormwater Reduced • Improved Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI)
11
Collaborate
Use Science
Target
Implement
Inform
Within focus areas. As opposed to Clusters.
Impact
Within focus areas and throughout Clusters.
As opposed to Delaware River Basin.
12
Metrics for Land Protection Strategies • miles of forested buffer protected through longterm easement or acquisition within focus areas • acres of priority forestlans protected within focus areas • # of landowners reached within focus areas
Improved Incentives and Understanding • # of municipalities within focus areas that improve planning, zoning, codes, ordinances and programs to promote land protection that is protective of water quality • Change throughout Clusters in knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of land use planners and decisionmakers
Outcomes •
% of streams with permanently protected buffers within focus areas and within Clusters
•
% of active river area that is permanently protected for 1st, 2nd and 3rd order streams within focus areas and within Clusters
13
Metrics for Stormwater Improved Incentives and Understanding Strategies • acres of urban and suburban lands within focus areas treated by green SW infrastructure • acres within focus areas treated by pollution prevention practices • # of landowners reached within focus areas
• # of municipalities within focus areas with dedicated funding for stormwater management • # of municipalities within focus areas that improve planning, zoning, codes, ordinances and programs to promote green SW infrastructure and pollution prevention practices
Outcomes • Increase in # of landowners and land managers throughout Clusters who use green stormwater infrastructure and pollution prevention practices to managed polluted runoff
• Change throughout Clusters in knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of practitioners and decisionmakers
14
Metrics for Agriculture Strategies • Acres of ag land with BMPs within focus areas • Miles of forested buffer restored within focus areas • Acres of wetlands enhanced/restored within focus areas • # of landowners reached within focus areas • $$ of Farm Bill funding leveraged within focus areas
Improved Incentives and Understanding • # of municipalities within focus areas that improve codes, ordinances and policies to incentivize conservation on ag lands • Change throughout Clusters in knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of key influencers in agicultural conservation
Outcomes • Increase in # of farmers and/or farm landowners throughout Clusters adopting conservation practices
15
Ecological and Water Outcomes
Metrics • Pollution Reduced • Stormwater Reduced • Improvement in IBI
16
Delaware River Watershed Initiative: Goals, Threats and Metrics (Oh My!) Amanda Bassow Director, Northeastern Regional Office National Fish and Wildlife Foundation [email protected] January 23, 2017
17
