Watershed Committee
Cypress Creek Watershed Committee and Stakeholder Participation Plan
Diverse stakeholder representation is essential to the success of the Cypress Creek Project. In order to represent these diverse interests, the River Systems Institute indentified a comprehensive list of key stakeholders that represented a broad range of perspectives. Initially, 20 stakeholders were selected based on their background, expertise, and community involvement. The first Cypress Watershed Committee meeting convened on June 3, 2009 and was successful in securing commitment from the stakeholders, identifying topics, and chairs for various subcommittee groups, and nominating a Committee chair, Scott Johnson.
2010-2011 Stakeholder Participation
Expectations and Roles for the Development of the Watershed Protection Plan
In phase one, the Cypress Creek Project focused its efforts on understanding watershed conditions, listening to stakeholder concerns and perspectives, and developing a sound scientifically based understanding of pollutant loads, frequency, magnitudes, and sources. River Systems Institute asked for your energy and assistance and you responded by taking on a substantial watershed committee and subcommittee process that resulted in approximately fifty-eight meetings, a better understanding of interrelatedness of water resources and economy, and a extensive watershed characterization report.
Phase two will have a markedly different focus and will result in the development of the locally approved watershed protection plan by December 2011. This phase will be more focused, more task driven, and will require more ownership from local stakeholders. We do not anticipate asking stakeholders to engage in such a rigorous group meeting schedule or to generate original reports and documentation. Instead, we propose to focus efforts in three main areas: education and outreach, technical, and policy and implementation strategies.
Education and Outreach Committee
TASK: take draft Education and Outreach Plan developed by the Outreach Committee and complete. This will be facilitated by an education and outreach specialist at Texas Stream Team. Local committee members will provide input on how to prioritize target audiences; determine most appropriate way to provide services; and identify local resources. Staff will edit the current report; determine costs associated with material development/production; provide updated drafts for review; and provide completed education and outreach strategy.
TIMELINE: January, February, March 2011 complete
Technical Committee
TASK: River Systems Institute will locate local engineering resources and/or hire an engineer to evaluate and identify a suite of applicable structural and non-structural practices that will mitigate current and future pollution loading for a variety of conditions; reduce peak flows; and enhance clean aquifer recharge. This valuation process will result in a direct understanding of the types of tools that can be employed in different areas and provide a cost/benefits analysis for stakeholders to evaluate when and where they could be utilized.
This information will be provided to stakeholders to determine how to prioritize and locate potential locations for implementation.
TIMELINE: January, February, March 2011 complete
Policy and Implementation Strategies Committee
TASK: Direct watershed protection plan users will convene to determine which policies and strategies can be utilized to implement the watershed protection plan and achieve clean, clear, and flowing conditions.
The technical BMP valuation and costs/benefits analysis (costs per unit of removed pollutant, etc.) will be utilized along with best examples of other efforts to incorporate market incentives and other mechanisms to achieve optimal long-term sustainable management.
WHO: County Commissioner, Wimberley Mayor, Woodcreek Mayor, WVWA Executive Director, HTGCD president, Friends of Blue Hole president, Woodcreek North POA president, Wimberley Springs Partners, Aqua Texas, Wimberley Water Supply Company, Cypress Creek Project Chair (or their appointed delegates)
TIMELINE: January 2011 through August 2012
Watershed/Stakeholder Committee
TASK: Attend quarterly meetings; provide input on subject matter related to developing the watershed protection plan; selected/available individuals will attend meeting with staff and represent CCP; selected/available individuals will communicate with officials regarding WPP development and implementation; ensure diverse representation, fairness; maintain open communications with project staff; and advocate for local ownership and implementation of the WPP.
TIMELINE: January 2011 through December 2011.