Napa County Conservancy and Watershed Information Center

April 2004 Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan

for the

Watershed Information Center

and Conservancy (WICC)

of Napa County

Prepared For

Watershed Information Center and Conservancy Board

Prepared By

Stott Planning Associates

April 2004

(Name revised throughout document 8/04 per County Resolution 04-102)


Acknowledgments

Page iii

Napa County Conservancy and Watershed Information Center

April 2004 Strategic Plan

Napa County Conservation, Development, and Planning Department

1195 Third Street, Suite 210

Napa, CA 94559

(707) 253-4416

http://www.co.napa.ca.us/

Staff

·  Charles Wilson – Director

·  R. Patrick Lowe Jr. – Deputy Planning Director

·  Jeff Sharp – Planner III

·  Laura Anderson – County Counsel

Napa County Board of Supervisors

·  Brad Wagenknecht – District 1

·  Mark Luce – District 2

·  Diane Dillon – District 3

·  Bill Dodd – District 4

·  Mike Rippey – District 5

Napa County Conservancy and Watershed Information Center Board

·  Mike Rippey

·  Diane Dillon

·  David Graves

·  Jake Ruygt

·  Al Buckland

·  Phill Blake

·  Donald Gasser

·  Kate Dargan

·  Jeffrey Redding

·  Tom Shelton

·  Charles Slutzkin

·  David Crawford

·  Bonnie Schoch

·  Carol Kunze

Project Consultant

Stott Planning Associates

1624 Telegraph Avenue, Oakland, CA 94612

(510) 645-5910

Page iii

Napa County Conservancy and Watershed Information Center

April 2004 Strategic Plan

Page iii

Napa County Conservancy and Watershed Information Center

April 2004 Strategic Plan

Executive Summary

Strategic Plan Purpose

Strategic Planning is an essential part of growing an organization. Preparation of a Strategic Plan provides the Watershed Information Center and Conservancy (WICC) of Napa County with a unique opportunity because it is a new organization. The Strategic Planning process allows an organization to look at its history and accomplishments, identify any challenges it faces, and define the opportunities available to build its desired future. The Strategic Plan helps focus the energy and effort of those involved in order to move forward with a common understanding of what needs to be done.

In September 2003, the WICC Board began development of a Strategic Plan to guide its short (immediate), medium (one to three years) and long (three years and beyond) term actions. The Strategic Planning process addressed a number of key questions and further refined and clarified the original recommendations of the Watershed Task Force. Key issues addressed during the planning process included:

·  Future WICC roles and responsibilities.

·  Future WICC priorities.

·  How will the WICC be staffed and funded?

·  What role will volunteers play in ensuring the success of the WICC?

·  Should the WICC separate into two organizations? If so when?

·  How will the WICC relate to other agencies, groups, and nonprofits in the county?

·  What organizational structure is most appropriate for the WICC?

·  Should the WICC seek nonprofit status and if so, when?

The following is a summary of the WICC Strategic Plan. In order to assure that the Strategic Plan continues to meet the goals of the WICC, it should be reviewed annually. Board and staff should identify completed, ongoing and not yet started actions; revisit the priorities of the actions; and identify the actions to be completed in the coming year.

Mission Statement

The Watershed Information Center and Conservancy (WICC) of Napa County will guide and support community efforts to maintain and improve the health of Napa County’s watershed lands.

Guiding Principles

·  Collaboration is the most effective way to accomplish the mission of the WICC. In order to be collaborative, all organizations and individuals working in Napa County’s watersheds will be encouraged to participate in the WICC.

·  The WICC supports and promotes the activities of other watershed restoration organizations and facilitates cooperation among them. It does not undermine or compete with the mission and goals of these organizations.

·  Participation in the WICC and provision of information to the WICC website is done voluntarily by agencies, organizations, and individuals.

·  The WICC will be part of the solution to watershed issues and concerns. It will be politically neutral and not involved in the regulatory process but will collect and disseminate the best possible information to aid those involved in policy and decision-making.

·  The WICC will seek monies and grants from foundations, private individuals, organizations, and local state and federal government agencies to address its financial needs and to further the mission and goals of the organization.

Goals, Actions and Priorities

The WICC Strategic Plan goals and the actions to implement the goals are identified below. Priorities for each action are indicated in parenthesis. Priority 1 actions are those that should be implemented immediately. Priority 2 actions are those that should be implemented in the next one to three years. Priority 3 actions are those that should be implemented beyond three years.

Coordination and Facilitation (CF)

Goals

Enhance partnerships, cooperation, and consistency and avoid duplication among all those working to improve the health of Napa County’s watersheds.

·  Coordinate and facilitate watershed planning, research, and monitoring efforts among Napa County organizations, agencies, landowners, and citizens.

·  Support organizations with a watershed restoration focus.

·  Serve as a clearinghouse and coordinator for watershed activities.

Actions and Priorities

Action CF1: Inventory the agencies, groups, organizations, and individuals involved in watershed planning and the projects, activities, and services offered by each. (Priority 1)

Action CF2: Establish a Watershed Forum where these groups can meet. (Priority 2)

Action CF3: Identify the overlaps and gaps in the projects, activities, and services provided by the organizations in CF1 and identify the services the WICC could provide to these groups. (Priority 1)

Action CF4: Assist with organizational capacity building of watershed groups. (Priority 1)

Action CF5: Coordinate and partner with other watershed organizations to create a link from the WICC website to the volunteer areas of each watershed organization’s website. (Priority 3)

Action CF6: Prepare a master calendar of watershed events and activities. (Priority 2)

Natural Resources (NR)

Goals

Collaborate with other organizations to protect and enhance watershed lands and natural processes with an emphasis on riparian corridors and native species and their habitats to achieve improved watershed health throughout Napa County and facilitate the eventual removal of the Napa River and its tributaries from California’s Section 303(d) list of water quality limited water bodies established under the Clean Water Act.

·  Identify key watershed areas for restoration, enhancement, and/or permanent protection.

·  Work with landowners, citizens, organizations, and agencies to permanently protect key watershed lands.

Actions and Priorities

Action NR1: Develop a countywide watershed management strategy. (Priority 1)

Action NR2: Support the Land Trust of Napa County and other potential conservation easement holders in their conservation easement acquisition efforts. (Priority 2)

Action NR3: Evaluate the pros and cons of the WICC holding conservation easements. (Priority 3)

Watershed Information Center and Conservancy Website (WICC Website)

Goals

Collect, organize, and make available to the public, environmental data and information to support community efforts to understand and better manage the County’s watersheds.

·  Ensure that the WICC website is created, managed, and frequently updated so that it provides accurate, easily accessible, and useful data.

·  Increase awareness of the information available from the WICC website.

Actions and Priorities

Action WIC1: Establish a system for WICC website maintenance and update. (Priority 1)

Action WIC2: Survey WICC website users on a regular basis. (Priority 3)

Action WIC3: Request TAC review of the WICC website on a regular basis. (Priority 3)

Action WIC4: Promote the WICC website to educators, policy makers, landowners, and the community. (Priority 2)

Education and Outreach (EO)

Goals

Engage the community – those who live, work, and visit the County’s watersheds – in improving the health of the watersheds.

·  Support ongoing community education about watershed conservation and the WICC.

·  Support appropriate public access to build appreciation and understanding of the land and its resources.

Actions and Priorities

Action EO1: Develop and disseminate information about the unique mission and resources of the WICC. (Priority 1)

Action EO2: Establish a permanent physical location for the WICC. (Priority 2)

Action EO3: Identify and publicize public access opportunities to Napa County’s watershed lands. (Priority 2)

Action EO4: Support efforts to develop a Napa County Parks and Open Space entity. (Priority 2)

Action EO5: Assist and support watershed public tour programs. (Priority 3)

Organizational Structure and Funding (OSF)

Goals

Assure that the WICC has adequate resources and the appropriate organizational structure to ensure its success.

·  Develop adequate staff, Board, volunteers, and a Technical Advisory Committee to support WICC activities.

·  Establish an organizational structure that suits the mission and goals of the WICC.

·  Secure reliable funding to fulfill the mission and goals of the WICC.

Actions and Priorities

Action OSF1: Increase staff from 1.1 to 2 FTEs. (Priority 1)

Action OSF2: Establish WICC committees. (Priority 2)

Action OSF3: Convene ad-hoc task forces as needed to address special issues. (Priority 2)

Action OSF4: Develop a strategy to recruit and train WICC volunteers. (Priority 3)

Action OSF5: Evaluate the need for a Citizen’s Advisory Committee. (Priority 3)

Action OSF6: Evaluate the pros and cons of various organizational structures. (Priority 2)

Action OSF7: Develop a funding and financing strategy. (Priority 1)

Page 21

Napa County Conservancy and Watershed Information Center

April 2004 Strategic Plan

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Table of Contents

1. Introduction 1

Watershed Informaton Center and Conservancy History and Accomplishments 2

Strategic Plan Purpose 3

The Planning Process 3

2. Issues, Opportunities, and Key Decisions 5

Issues 5

Opportunities 6

Key Decisions 6

3. WICC Mission, Guiding Principles and Goals 9

Mission Statement 9

WICC Guiding Principles 9

Goals 9

Coordination and Facilitation (CF) 9

Natural Resources (NR) 10

Watershed Information Center and Conservancy Website 10

Education and Outreach (EO) 10

Organizational Structure and Funding (OSF) 10

4. WICC Actions 11

Coordination and Facilitation (CF) 11

Goals 11

Actions 11

Natural Resources (NR) 14

Goals 14

Actions 14

Watershed Information Center and Conservancy (WICC) Website 15

Goals 15

Actions 15

Education and Outreach (EO) 16

Goals 16

Actions 16

Organizational Structure and Funding (OSF) 18

Goals 18

Actions 18

5. WICC Action Priorities 23

Priority 1 Actions 23

Priority 2 Actions 24

Priority 3 Actions 24


Appendices (Separate Document)

Appendix 1: WICC Board Survey

Appendix 2: Strategic Plan Background Report (9 October 2003)

Appendix 3: Strategic Plan Workshop #1 Agenda and Meeting Notes (13 October 2003)

Appendix 4: Preliminary Draft Strategic Plan and Additional Background Information

(14 November 2003)

Appendix 5: Strategic Plan Workshop #2 Agenda and Meeting Notes (20 November 2003)

Appendix 6: Strategic Plan Workshop #3 Agenda and Meeting Notes (22 January 2004)

Page 21

Napa County Conservancy and Watershed Information Center

April 2004 Strategic Plan

1. Introduction

Watershed Information Center and Conservancy (WICC) History and Accomplishments

In May 1998, State Senator Mike Thompson and District 3 County Supervisor Mel Varrelman convened a Watershed Planning Group, consisting of members from the agricultural, vintner, environmental, public, governmental, and building communities as well as other stakeholders. The charge of this group was to discuss and try to reach consensus on land use practices involving hillside development issues and their effects on the natural environment. In August 1998, the Napa County Board of Supervisors was asked by the Watershed Planning Group to approve a process for a more formal and comprehensive review of watershed management policies in the unincorporated areas of Napa County. This request ultimately led to the appointment and formation of a fifteen-member Napa River Watershed Task Force on December 8, 1998.

The Task Force was charged with examining a variety of short term and longer term conservation strategies related to sustainable land use (both urban and agricultural), and the protection of natural resources and habitats in Napa County, while recognizing the critical role that Napa County agriculture plays in the regional economy and the quality of life. The Task Force was asked to advise the Board of Supervisors of their findings and provide practical recommendations on future short term and longer-term actions or policies to address priority issues. The Task Force’s Phase I recommendations included ways to make existing County regulations more effective as well as long term recommendations to improve access to existing watershed data and to achieve watershed conservation goals.

During Phase I, the Task Force agreed on a set of general goals, key facts, and trends that are described in detail in the Phase I Interim Report submitted to the Board of Supervisors in May 1999. The Task Force reached consensus on a number of specific recommendations regarding the County’s zoning regulations, particularly the Conservation Regulations, during Phase I. The Napa County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved these recommendations on May 18, 1999 following presentation of the Interim Report.

After the conclusion of Phase I, the Board of Supervisors reconvened the Watershed Task Force to reach consensus on a series of outstanding issues related to implementing a long-term management strategy for the Napa River watershed. The Task Force was charged with examining and making recommendations on specific provisions of the Conservation Regulations and with the further development of several long-term watershed management and information gathering functions, including a Watershed Information Center and a Watershed Conservancy. The Phase II Final Report provides recommendations to the Board of Supervisors on these issues.

In September of 2000 the Napa River Watershed Task Force released its Phase II Final Report. Two of the recommendations resulting from this multi-year study were the formation of a Watershed Information Center and Conservancy (WICC).[1]

The Watershed Task Force identified overall goals for the Conservancy. These were to:

·  Protect sensitive lands;

·  Facilitate restoration of priority habitats;

·  Support existing watershed stewardship programs;

·  Partner with cities to address urban impacts and cost sharing; and

·  Conduct fundraising.

The Watershed Task Force also identified overall goals for the Watershed Information Center. These were to: