SWWG SNAP Service Plan 2015

Member

Member Service Plan

Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership

Service plans lay the framework for what each member will be doing during their service. Service plans detail the major projects and expected results each member will have. Members review these service plans during the application process to find the position that most closely matches their experience as well as their career goals and professional development needs. SNAP staff understands that service projects will change based on funding availability, staffing, etc. If Host Sites make major changes to their service plans they must contact their Regional Coordinator to discuss what impacts the changes will have on the Members outputs and results. Sites must also consult with their Member about these changes to ensure that members are still receiving the training and hands on experience that was originally included in the Service Plan which the member agreed to. Please complete the following form and submit it with your Host Site Application or Reapplication. If you are applying to host more than one member you will need to submit a separate Service Plan for each Position you are applying for unless the positions are exactly the same.

Organizational Background: Sierra Water Workgroup: In 2009, a small group of individuals representing foothill water agencies and Sierra environmental groups met to discuss inter-regional cooperation amongst the existing and newly forming Integrated Regional Water Management Planning (IRWMP) groups in the Sierra. Other regional organization such as the Mountain Counties Water Resource Association, Cosumnes, American, Bear and Yuba (CABY) region, and Sierra Nevada Conservancy were all discussed as optional venues to serve this need. However, no organization met all the criteria of: multi-stakeholder representation, wide geographic scope, unbiased reputation, flexible, and with the ability to promote on behalf of the Sierra. The Sierra Water Workgroup (SWWG) continued to meet over two years, and formalized the membership through a charter in 2011. In 2013 and 2014, the SWWG began signing MOUs with each of the IRWM regions in the Sierra in order to further formalize relationships.

Organizational/Program Goals 2014: Through watershed and environmental education, the Sierra Water Workgroups’s SWWG) communication and outreach efforts will continue to protect Sierra watersheds by providing planning, collaboration, and networking resources to Sierra communities. The SWWG activities for 2014 include:

1. Promote watershed and environmental awareness through education & outreach

a. Communications and Outreach

i. Create and distribute SWWG e-newsletters informing Sierrans about watershed and environmental issues and provide resources and opportunities in the region to further watershed stewardship. Track issues, news, and resources related to local, regional, and state water management and policy.

ii. Develop educational materials around water management and water policy in the Sierra.

iii. Update and maintain the SWWG website to educate resource managers on water issues, resources and opportunities.

b. Event Planning:

i. Help design and implement a one-day workshop focusing on educating a diverse group of stakeholders in the Sierra on issues specific to water rights and watershed protection.

1. Survey workshop and Summit attendees to gauge increase in watershed and water management knowledge

2. Create & participate in watershed restoration and assessment projects

a. Assist with Great Sierra River Cleanup (with Clean Tahoe). TheGreat Sierra River Cleanupis the premier volunteer event focused on removing trash and restoring the health of waterways throughout theSierraNevada Region. Thiscleanupis an annual event coordinated by theSierraNevada Conservancy and held in conjunction with California Coastal CleanupDay. The member will help organize 5-15 sites with upwards of 250 volunteers. This requires organizing and collaborating with other organizations in order to bring in groups of volunteers and site leaders and using publicity and outreach. Assist with Bike Path Cleanup coinciding with Bike to Work Weeks in June 2015. Work with the League to Save Lake Tahoe.

3. Develop Resource attainment

a. Do outreach and gain Sponsors for SWWG educational summit to cover the facility/food and other Summit event costs

Member Service Plan Overview and Outcomes:

One SNAP member will join the Sierra Water Workgroup for the April 13 – September 30, 2015 service term for a total of 900 hours served. The SNAP member will use GIS/mapping software and web applications along with database programs to help design and implement a data management system (DMS) for a specific IRWM region, which will also be used by other IRWM regions in the Sierra. The member will also coordinate events and conduct outreach to the community relevant to regional management through e-newsletters, workshops, conferences, publications, website updates and other projects that deepen our network of Sierra water management and education efforts.

Service Position Major Projects:

1. Watershed Education and Outreach

a. Priority Project: Sierra Water Workgroup Day-long workshop

The Sierra Water Workgroup's mission is to assist regional efforts to protect and enhance water quality, water supply, and watershed health; to develop cooperative regional responses; and to facilitate reinvestment in our watersheds and water resources by all beneficiaries. The group addresses water issues of concern to the Sierra by coordinating amongst local and regional water plans; exchanging information and tools for water and watershed management amongst stakeholders in the region; serving as an information source regarding state and federal water policy issues for local governments, nonprofits, and other stakeholders; and raising the profile of the Sierra to increase private, state and federal funding opportunities. The member’s SWWG support will include: a leading role in organizing the educational SWWG Workshop and organizing 1 session with at least 30 attendees and one plenary with 50 attendees (total 60 individuals presented to), researching regional and statewide water management issues and policies, developing educational resources, and potentially creating 1-2 maps of IRWM regions and projects.

i. Projected Hours: 140

ii. Estimated Outcomes: (Complete one of the following for this project)

1. Presentations (Presentations and/or Service Learning projects of at least 30 minutes in which the member will be able to query participants with a pre and post test): 60

2. Outreach (Educational Outreach in which members will be able to ask participants if the outreach conducted increased their level of understanding): N/A

b. Priority Project: Website updates

The SWWG website is the group’s primary outreach and communications tool. It is a fairly simple Weebly-built website which needs updates to contact information and IRWM Region information. Continued maintenance and updates will be required.

SWWG is also maintaining and updating a Wordpress-based website for a specific IRWM region. The Member will help maintain and update this website by improving website functions, providing coordinated outreach to stakeholders, uploading project information, posting meetings, minutes, and other relevant information to the region. 100 hours a year for three years will be budgeted for on-going Tahoe-Sierra website management. The Member will conduct surveys and/or interviews to see if the website(s) are meeting the needs of the various users.

i. Projected Hours: 80

ii. Estimated Outcomes: (Complete one of the following for this project)

1. Presentations: N/A

2. Outreach: 15

c. Priority Project: SWWG E-News
The SWWG sends out electronic newsletters at least quarterly. The newsletter highlights events, resources, news, opportunities, and sustainable actions for groups and individuals working on integrated water management efforts in the Sierra. The goal of the e-news is to educate conservation leaders on emerging issues, offer resources to further their stewardship and announce conservation events. To ensure that goal is being achieved, an electronic survey along and potentially phone interviews will reach out to a total of 30 people in order to gauge whether newsletters increase knowledge and identify newsletter improvements.

i. Projected Hours: 40

ii. Estimated Outcomes: (Complete one of the following for this project)

1. Presentations: N/A

2. Outreach: 15

d. Priority Project: Workshop at Regional Conference

Organize one watershed stewardship and water policy workshop. Member will recruit speakers in watershed conservation and stewardship to lead one workshop at the Sierra Nevada Alliance Annual Conference. They will also set up a table to educate participants about Sierra watershed and water policy issues in the region.

i. Projected Hours: 80

ii. Estimated Outcomes:

1. Presentations: 25

2. Outreach: 100

Watershed Education and Outreach Totals:

i. Total Projected Hours: 340 hours

· Presentations by Member: 85

· Outreach by member: 130

2. Watershed Restoration and Assessment:

a. Priority Project: Data Management

Use GIS and database programs to help design and implement a data management system (DMS) for a specific IRWM region, which will also be used by other IRWM regions in the Sierra. The DMS will include, at a minimum, project tracking using an Excel spreadsheet or Access database and a public website where files and other announcements can be posted as part of the IRWM outreach process. However, a more advanced, searchable, database-driven website, using relevant historic data is desired and including project performance monitoring is desired. The DMS will serve as a basic platform for publishing spatial and tabular data as needed to promote collaboration and data sharing for the IRWM Partnership, stakeholders of the IRWMP, and the public, as appropriate. The Member will help Collect and organize various repositories of documents such as MS Word, PDF, Excel, images and other types of formats. The Member will help import these documents into the DMS and configure an interactive document library function for easy loading, searching and retrieval. These documents may be linked to locations on the map to enhance storage and retrieval by adding a spatial component. The Member will design an Operation Manual for authorized DMS users to load additional documents and edit and manage the document library after the initial documents import effort has been completed.

The member will also help design/improve and maintain basic website(s) for 1-3 IRWM regions.

i. Projected Hours: 400

ii. Estimated Outcome: Produce viable, organized data that can be used for continued and future communications, data analysis, and project decisions.

b. Priority Project: Bike to Work Week Path Cleanup

Work with the League to Save Lake Tahoe to recruit volunteers and lead a team of volunteers to clean up a section of bike pat through South Lake Tahoe before Bike to Work Week starts. Lead one group along bike path, give safety speech before cleanup begins.

i. Projected Hours: 20

ii. Estimated Outcomes: 1 acre restored by the member, 9 acres restored by volunteers.

Watershed Restoration and Assessment Totals:

iii. Total Projected Hours: 420 hours

iv. Total Estimated Outcome: 9 acres

1. Acres Restored by Member: 1

3. Volunteer Recruitment and Support:

a. Priority Project: Great Sierra River Cleanup

i. Projected Hours: 40

ii. Estimated Outcomes: (Complete one of the following for this project)

1. Number of Volunteers Recruited: 40

2. Total # of Hours Served by Volunteers: 80

Volunteer Recruitment and Support Totals:

iii. Total Projected Hours: 40

iv. Total Estimated Outcomes:

1. Number of Volunteers Recruited: 20

2. Total # of Hours Served by Volunteers: 40

4. Resource Attainment: (Please note that members can complete no more than 170 hours of Resource Attainment Activities. Resource Attainment activities must raise money that goes directly to member service projects. Members may NOT raise general funds, write federal grants, or write grants to cover your site’s cash match.)

a. Priority Project: Secure Sponsors and/or private grants for SWWG Summit, Great Sierra River Cleanup and Bike to Work Week Path Cleanup to cover facilities and food, materials, and supplies for these events.

i. Projected Hours: 20

ii. Estimated Outcomes:

1. Number of Donations (Grants, Services, Goods, etc): 10

2. Dollar Amount of Donation: $7,500

Resource Attainment Totals:

iii. Total Projected Hours: 20

iv. Total Estimated Outcomes:

1. Number of Donations: 10

2. Dollar Amount of Donation: $5,000

5. Member Training and Development: (Please note that members can complete no more than 340 hours of training.)

a. SNAP Specific Trainings: Required SNAP Member Orientation, Spring Training and Service Projects, Summer Training and Sierra Nevada Alliance Annual Conference and Graduation

i. Projected Hours: 30

b. Site Specific Orientation:

Training topics will include:

· Orientation to SWWG and Sierra Nevada Alliance organization staff, office technology, personnel policies and procedures

· Review of Sierra Nevada region issues including watersheds, land use, climate change, and other natural resource issues

· Advanced GIS desktop and online application training, if available

· Advanced database theory, design, and applied training, if available

o Projected Hours: 50

Member Training and Development Totals:

i. Total Projected Hours: 80

6. Total Hours: 900

7. Percentage Totals:

a. Watershed Education and Outreach: 38% (340)

b. Watershed Restoration and Assessment: 47% (420)

c. Volunteer Recruitment and Support: 4% (40)

d. Resource Attainment: 2% (20)

e. Member Training and Development: 9% (80)