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Education & Outreach Program
Purpose:
Provide information, services and products to promote responsible stewardship of water and natural resources by the watershed
community.
Justification:
The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) community
is arguably the most densely populated and socially diverse in the
State of Minnesota. It is also the most mobile in the sense that
thousands who live elsewhere work and recreate in the watershed,
use its resources and leave at the end of the day. Identifying and
engaging key stakeholders requires a variety of approaches, targeting
many different audiences and evolving stand-alone activities into
ongoing involvement.
Achieving widespread education about water and natural resources
is at the core of a successful watershed management plan. Greater
knowledge and awareness leads to adjustments in personal, corporate,
and institutional behaviors and expectations and ultimately, changes
policy and standard ways of doing business. Better land use decisions
are key to protecting the natural resources, character and long-term
economic health of our communities.
The Education and Outreach Program fulfills specific statutory
requirements found in Minnesota Statutes Chapter 103B, Minnesota
Rules Chapter 8410, supports member cities in fulfilling the demands
of NPDES permit authority, and supports other MWMO programs to increase
their impact.
Objectives:
Provide services and products to inform and educate the watershed community using tools such as trainings,
presentations, events, website, press releases, newsletters and events
Create and support opportunities for public participation and involvement (such as restoration, monitoring, river cleanups, reviewing
plans, participating in political processes)
Work with staff from both the private and public sectors to prevent runoff and pollution at work sites and during routine maintenance
activities (such as landscaping, snow/ice removal)
Collaborate with other professionals and networks to leverage funding and increase the reach and effectiveness of watershed education
(such as Watershed Partners, media campaigns)
Inform and educate land use decision makers about the relationship between land use and natural resource protection/conservation
Integrate outreach and education into MWMO projects and programs
to increase their effectiveness and to support the needs of staff, the Board and committees
Evaluate program effectiveness on an ongoing basis and modify strategies accordingly
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