The document discusses strategies for community involvement in restoration projects, highlighting the complexities of urban restoration and the importance of understanding and addressing community concerns. It emphasizes the need for open communication, stakeholder identification, and building long-term support through successful small projects. Additionally, it advocates for a programmatic and watershed-based approach to restoration to establish credibility and engage community participation effectively.

1. Restoration in the
Community
Buzzards Bay Coalition
March 22, 2012

3. Restoration in the Community



All restoration projects will undoubtedly result in
interaction with other landowners, boards and
officials and therefore have some level of public
participation.
Urban restoration projects can be even more
complex due to density of landowners, number
of concerned parties, infrastructure issues, etc.
There will be Community Participation…

4. What is your approach for
Community Participation?

To meet statutory requirements? i.e. Section 106

To say that the community was involved? Or is it
to involve the community?

To involve them in the decision-making
process?

5. The need for involvement
Who likes to be excluded from the
decision-making process?
 Who likes to have “others” tell them how
something is going to be?
 How accepting are people of change in
general?
 What about change in their backyard?


6. Identify the Project Stakeholders

Identify stakeholders
 Immediate
abutters
 Downstream residents
 Trail walkers
 Fishermen
 Others

7. Meetings





Attempt to create atmosphere for productive
discussion
Try to have all partners present
Minimize jargon (HEC-RAS), acronyms, use
proper terms (impoundment)
It’s okay to have folks “vent” or “blow off steam”
Sometimes you won’t be able to address all
concerns and that’s okay

8. Meetings

At the beginning, during and end of process

Are you meeting after decisions have been
made?

Are you speaking to them, at them or involving
them?

9. Post Meetings – keeping people
informed between meetings
Consider email chains, letters, updates
 Provide your contact information in
multiple formats
 Website, Twitter, Facebook
 Face to Face


11. Community Concerns








Special Issues
􀂾
􀂾
􀂾
􀂾
􀂾
􀂾
􀂾
Impounded Sediment
Structural Deterioration
Passage & Habitat Alternatives
Property Access
Water & Sewer Utilities
Historic Values
Trail

12. Community Concerns

Do you really know what their concerns
are?

Example: Trails? Really???

13. Public Perceptions
Loss v. Gain – Dam removal projects are a
great example.
 Loss of “pond”, loss of dam, loss of historic
resources….
 Gains: Public safety, environmental, cost
savings, parks, open space, stormwater,
utilities, displays, trails, property values.


19. Building Community Support
Develop a partnership of local support:
ConCom, Steering Committees, BOS,
FinCom, neighbors, herring volunteers,
watershed organizations, etc.
 Be prepared (as much as possible) for
public meetings.


20. Utilizing Community Involvement
What other activities do you or your group
do in this area or neighborhood?
 Other work can build relationships and
trust.
 Fish counts, cleaning fish ladders,
roadwork.
 Neighborhood cleanups, trail work…


21. Reasons for Decisions
Be aware that different people make
decisions for different reasons
 Restoration projects are broader than just
being “environmental”
 Infrastructure, hazard mitigation, cost
savings, park/open space, property
values, etc.


22. Official support
Utilize public support
 Don’t forget the other reasons people
make decisions. FinCom very different
than ConCom.

 Make
it easy for decision-makers to
support your project!

23. Building Long Term Support
If you hope to make restoration accepted
in your community you need to build upon
your successes.
 Build upon momentum with projects –
even small projects matter!
 Build upon your ability to bring in funding
 Can you “institutionalize” restoration?


24. Restoration Approach
Watershed/Process Based Approach
 This
is a comprehensive approach to
protecting and restoring watersheds– fish
passage, water quality, stormwater, land
protection, open space, monitoring, etc.
 Focuses on processes and self sustaining
principles
 This approach can help build credibility
through various projects over time

25. Programmatic
We consider restoration to be
programmatic and not a one-time project.
 Restoration is part of how we protect and
manage resources along with land
acquisition, management, enforcement.
 Stresses the importance of long term work
and stewardship
 Allows municipalities and groups to make
the most of its resources


26. Approach and Citizen Involvement



By incorporating restoration work into programs
over time you can build credibility and long term
support can be established.
This allows you to develop individuals and/or
groups that are willing to express support for
your projects.
Restoration is no longer “odd” but rather an
accepted practice

27. Community Projects






Town Brook – Bridge replacement with rock ramp, two
dam removals, one new priority project.
Wellingsley Brook – three weirs to be removed (salters)
aided by petition to BOS by 75 residents
Eel River Headwaters Restoration Project
Tidmarsh Farms/Beaver Dam Brook
Red Brook
Agawam?

28. Discussion