Coastal Training & Information Program

Strategic Plan 2003-2006

Vision

People managing coastal resources along the Gulf of Maine will value those resources and will understand the long term environmental, social, and economic consequences of their management decisions and actions.

Page Content

Goal

The goal of the Wells Reserve Coastal Training & Information Program is to promote wise stewardship of coastal environments in the Gulf of Maine by providing accessible science-based information, techniques, and tools to decision makers.

Objectives

• Respond to audience identified needs for science-based information and technology relevant to coastal stewardship
• Identify and translate emerging research and technology tailored to the needs of coastal decision makers
• Present the results and implications of research conducted at the Wells Reserve to local and regional audiences
• Work with partners to foster dialogue and collaboration among individuals and groups, and across disciplines and jurisdictions about coastal environmental stewardship
• Develop and evaluate innovative communication strategies and delivery methods for effective translation of science to lay audiences

Building On Existing Strengths

This Strategic Plan has been developed by the Wells Reserve staff working with the CTIP Advisory Committee and Laudholm Trust. The results of the Market Analysis and Needs Assessment will be used to design a Coastal Training & Information Program that addresses identified gaps, and is responsive to the needs of local and regional audiences.

The Coastal Training & Information Program is an extension of existing education and outreach efforts already in place at the Wells Reserve. The Reserve is a focal point for community conservation efforts in southern Maine. The Reserve provides science-based information and support to communities working on watershed management, water quality monitoring, wetland restoration and land conservation. GIS support has been one of the Reserve's strengths, providing important services to many southern Maine groups and communities.

Local and regional partnerships have been the foundation of many of the Reserve's programs. This successful approach will continue and will be a vital component of CTIP. The Maine Coastal Program, Maine Sea Grant, and Southern Maine Regional Planning Commission are part of the CTIP Advisory Committee. The Coastal Mosaic Project of the Reserve built a network of municipal officials, conservation commissions, land trusts and watershed associations sharing information through meetings, workshops and a list serve maintained by the Reserve. In many ways, this project was a prototype for CTIP. Collaboration and networking through the Coastal Mosaic Project has provided the Reserve staff with over five years of experience identifying and responding to community conservation needs, designing workshops and information services, and most importantly, cultivating relationships with local community decision makers. These groups will continue to be served by the Coastal Training & Information Program, and valuable lessons learned will be applied to CTIP.

Audiences

The Market Analysis and Needs Assessment identified municipal officials as the dominant target audience for the Wells Reserve CTIP. This category represents diverse roles and job descriptions, including both paid professionals, and professionals and community members serving on volunteer town boards.

Paid professionals included in the municipal audience include Town Managers, Planners, Code Enforcement Officers, Public Works and Highway Managers, Water and Wastewater Managers, Clam Wardens and Harbor Masters. Included in the municipal audience are those volunteers serving on Planning Boards, Site Plan Review Boards, Conservation Commissions, Town Councils or as Selectmen. Volunteer boards are in many cases the backbone of the decision-making process at the local level. In addition to municipal audiences, the Market Analysis and Needs Assessment identified land trusts, watershed and river associations, open space planning committees, the general public and state and federal employees as audiences for CTIP.

Critical to the success of CTIP efforts to provide science-based information to coastal decision makers will be the recognition and incorporation of local knowledge into the design and content of programs and services. Approaches that are respectful of community concerns and that are sensitive and responsive to the information needs of local audiences will be more effective. The Market Analysis and Needs Assessment is a huge step in this direction. Continued efforts to assess and evaluate needs for science-based information will guide future CTIP efforts.

Business groups and others not surveyed as part of the initial Market Analysis and Needs Assessment will be included in future CTIP planning. Audiences that could benefit from science-based information include the media, real estate developers, landscapers, golf course managers, legislators and the tourism and hospitality industry.

Key Coastal Issues and Training Topics

The key coastal issues to be addressed by CTIP were identified during interviews and by the survey completed for the Market Analysis and Needs Assessment. Using this data, Reserve staff and the CTIP Advisory Committee developed two primary training themes for the Wells Reserve CTIP:
     Land and Resource Conservation
     Pollution, Runoff and Water Quality

Nine training topics emerged from a field of 58. These are listed below in priority order based on the results of the Market Analysis and Needs Assessment. These topics will be the focus for the first three years of the CTIP.

1. Balancing growth and economic development with quality of life, recreation, agriculture, forestry and wildlife habitats
2. Assessing cumulative impacts of planning decisions on natural resources
3. Conservation of wildlife habitat
4. Conservation of wetlands, marshes and vernal pools
5. Economic and tax implications of land conservation
6. Water quality in rivers, streams, ponds
7. Use of Best Management Practices for water quality protection
8. Stormwater runoff impacts: sediment, pesticides, fertilizers, impervious surface
9. Ecological concepts, and scientific fundamentals, information and resources

2003 Workshop Topics

Programs scheduled for 2003 reflect the kinds of workshops that will be offered. Workshops are developed with partners to address needs and serve audiences identified in the Market Analysis and Needs Assessment.

• Best Development Practices for Vernal Pool Conservation
• Planning for Open Space Preservation
• Salt Marsh Restoration
• Identifying and Prioritizing Land for Conservation

Training and Outreach Delivery Methods

During discussions of CTIP by Reserve Staff and the CTIP Advisory Committee the limitations of describing the program as a Coastal Training & Information Program surfaced. Training was considered to be only one aspect of an effective information delivery program. The Wells Reserve CTIP will employ a suite of delivery methods. Delivery methods were evaluated by the Needs Assessment Survey. These methods are listed below in priority order, based upon survey ratings of very helpful. All of these methods were considered helpful by more than 50% of survey respondents. These methods, and additional information, from the Market Analysis and Needs Assessment about length, location and scheduling of training will be used to develop delivery methods and strategies.

The Wells Reserve CTIP will identify, develop and evaluate innovative communication strategies and delivery methods for effective translation of science to lay audiences. These strategies and methods will be shared with partner organizations and the NERRs CTIP community.

Preferred Method of Information Delivery

Rank based on ratings of Very Helpful
(from Needs Assessment Survey)

1. Presentation and interpretation of GIS information
2. Website dedicated to local issues
3. Printed publication or fact sheet
4. Research summaries for non-scientists
5. Face-to face: presentation, workshop, conference
6. Coastal Resource Library w/internet access
7. (tie) List serve providing updates and interaction
   (tie) Newsletter
8. Technical support at your location
9. Technical support by telephone
10. Technical support by appointment at Reserve

Integration

The fundamental goal of the Coastal Training & Information Program - To convey science-based natural resource information to decision-makers - will be integrated into research, stewardship and education projects at the Wells Reserve. As part of the Education arm of the Wells Reserve, CTIP will complement education and outreach to K - 12 audiences, and the general public. Information developed for CTIP audiences has immediate applicability for teacher training and for educating the public. Research benefits from CTIP in two ways: the CTIP Coordinator will work with project scientists to accomplish the outreach goals associated with research projects and to translate science and technology for appropriate audiences. Secondly, community needs for research can be identified through CTIP efforts and relayed to the Research Director for consideration for future research. CTIP staff will collaborate with other Reserve staff to identify ways to incorporate training and outreach strategies into appropriate projects.

Evaluation

The effectiveness of CTIP will be evaluated at multiple levels. Evaluation will be an iterative process, meaning, it will be incorporated into the process of development, marketing and delivery of training and outreach. CTIP will be evaluated for its effectiveness in accomplishing goals and objectives identified for the Wells Reserve as well as those identified for the National Estuarine Research Reserve system.

Participants in workshops and training will complete written evaluations at the conclusion of training. Questionnaires will be used to gather feedback on content, format, and delivery methods. To determine if training has resulted in the implementation of ideas, techniques and skills "back on the job," follow-up evaluations will be conducted. Follow-up evaluations may take the form of internet surveys, phone interviews or focus group meetings. Evaluation will provide information on evolving needs for science-based information relevant to coastal stewardship.

Program evaluation will be an agenda item for regular CTIP staff meetings and quarterly CTIP Advisory Committee meetings. CTIP Activity Report Forms will be completed within one week of any training or workshop. These forms include questions related to program evaluation.

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