Source Water Collaboration Toolkit How to Partner With Conservation Districts Introduction slide with text box at bottom that can be customized with your information www.sourcewatercollaborative.org

Why Partner with Conservation Districts? Work with millions of cooperating landowners and operators to help them manage and protect land and water resources on all private lands and many public lands in the United States Contribute to successful source water protection projects Lead local projects that can protect drinking water sources through agriculture conservation practices, stormwater and forest management. Can offer suggestions about how to access to funding sources Maintain relationships with key local and state partners Many source water protection professionals are already successfully working with conservation districts at the local or state level. Conservation districts are well connected to a network of partners and resources potentially helpful to source water protection projects.

Toolkit Developed by Source Water Collaborative, in Partnership with National Association of Conservation Districts Source Water Collaborative (SWC): 25 national organizations aligned to share information and encourage land use and stewardship actions at the federal, state, regional and local levels to protect drinking water sources National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD): Nonprofit organization representing America’s 3,000 conservation districts and those who serve on their governing boards. Conservation districts are local units of government established under state law to carry out natural resource management programs at the local level. Districts work with millions of cooperating landowners and operators to help them manage and protect land and water resources on all private lands and many public lands in the United States. SWC Background: Initial 13 members of the Source Water Collaborative met in 2005, and membership has grown to 25 national organizations, including the National Association of Conservation Districts, who joined in 2013. The Collaborative is based on the principle that partnerships grounded in common interests can achieve mutually beneficial goals. (Original 13 members included: American Water Works Association, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, Association of Clean Water Administrators (then ASIWPCA), Clean Water Fund, Environmental Finance Center Network, Environmental Protection Agency, Groundwater Foundation, Ground Water Protection Council, National Association of Counties, National Rural Water Association, River Network, Trust for Public Land)

Source Water Collaborative Member Organizations American Planning Association American Water Works Association Assoc. of Metropolitan Water Agencies Assoc. of State Drinking Water Administrators Assoc. of Clean Water Administrators Assoc. of State and Territorial Health Officials Clean Water Fund Environmental Finance Center The Groundwater Foundation Ground Water Protection Council National Assoc. of Conservation Districts National Association of Counties Nat’l Environmental Services Center Nat’l Ground Water Association Nat’l Rural Water Association North American Lake Management Society River Network Rural Community Assistance Partnership Smart Growth America Trust for Public Land USDA – Farm Service Agency USDA – Forest Service U.S. EPA U.S. Geological Survey Water Systems Council

Source Water Collaboration Toolkit Goals v Source Water Collaboration Toolkit Goals Promote source water protection through agriculture conservation practices, stormwater and forest management Help connect those working on state/local drinking water protection projects with conservation districts

This slide demonstrates the common ground between source water and Conservation District representatives. A key commonality is that both programs take a voluntary approach to encouraging participation of landowners in conservation practices, and share a common focus on protecting soil, water quality, and health. Note that the landowners may be most aware of the regulatory nature of state and federal environmental programs, so it is important to convey that your focus is on opportunities to work collaboratively and voluntarily. (Note: This image is enlarged from the infographic developed by the SWC)

(Note: This slide zooms in on the text from the more details SWC infographic, available to download in the SWC toolkit on Step 2.) The Conservation Districts may have dedicated funding or provide technical assistance for conservation projects. The Source Water Collaborative learned from National Association for Conservation Districts (NACD) staff that source water professionals should bring a specific project or geographic area of focus to their Conservation District’s office to initiate a partnership. Prior to that meeting, it can be helpful to review the conservation district’s annual workplan to understand their current priorities and areas of focus before suggesting your project. The source water partner can offer concrete information about what source water protection has to offer, such as GIS maps outlining high priority areas, assessment data, and source water plans. You can also bring ideas for possible matching funds and potential partners.

This infographic highlights what source water professionals (defined broadly here, but applicable for many organizations and efforts) and Conservation Districts can bring to a collaborative effort to protect sources of drinking water.

This new online toolkit was launched in January 2014, and was developed with guidance from SWC member, the National Association of Conservation Districts, as well as numerous state and regional source water partners who recently fostered effective relationships with their conservation districts. The SWC website’s Collaboration section is designed to link you to either this new toolkit to collaborate with conservation districts (blue box on the left), or to the toolkit the SWC developed in 2012 to help source water partners work with their USDA National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist (blue box on the right). Here (at the bottom of the slide) is the web address for the Collaboration toolkits Visit Toolkit www.SourceWaterCollaborative.org/swp-conservation-partners-toolkit

v This portion of the presentation will provide highlights on the content available in the Collaboration with Conservation Districts toolkit. This toolkit’s 5 steps here on the right take users to key information they might be quickly looking for. It’s also intended to be a step-by-step guide to prepare users for collaboration. The toolkit is designed for a variety of audiences – from those who have never worked with their conservation district, to those who have attempted but without success, to those who would like to enhance their current efforts.

v - The toolkit also includes success stories from your peers who worked with conservation districts to protect drinking water sources.

v - Step 1 outlines the basics you need to understand about what conservation districts do and provides an easy link to find your local or state office.

v Step 2 outlines what you should know before contacting the conservation district. This step includes a downloadable infographic (shown in the earlier slides) that explains the conservation district’s role and what can be accomplished through collaboration. One thing you may not realize is that conservation districts have different name in different parts of the country. For instance, you may know of them as the “Soil and Water Conservation District” or just “Soil Conservation District.” For this toolkit, we just refer to them generally as “Conservation Districts” [Pick from this link for your state audience: http://www.nacdnet.org/about/districts] - You can visit your conservation district’s website to learn about their current activities and projects. The toolkit includes a handy link that lists these websites. If your local conservation district does not have a website, ask your state contact for help.

v Step 3 gives recommended local and state-specific staff contacts, preparation tips and suggested meeting approaches to be more successful in collaborating with the conservation district. You can select the state or local icons to get relevant information. For instance, if you’re working at the state level, who you contact would be different from a local level conservation district.

v - Once you click on the state icon (for instance), relevant information is displayed below. This screenshot shows just a little of what’s available.

- Here are just a couple examples of the type of information that’s available in this step: Specific advice on what to bring to meetings, talking points, and alternative approaches to effectively setting up your initial meeting. - You can also find tips for getting involved in the NRCS State Technical Committee meeting and connecting with conservation district participants.

v Step 4 lists conservation districts’ key funding sources. Your project planning can be better informed is you’re aware of their funding sources. These generally consist of: the Nonpoint Source/319 Program, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and State Departments of Agriculture, Departments of Environmental Quality and Departments of Natural Resources. Another interesting thing the toolkit points out is that because conservation districts are established under state laws, their funding sources vary by state. In some states, conservation districts are organized as special purpose taxing districts, eligible for loans and grants, and considered a municipal entity.

v - Step 5 lists an array of partners who conservation districts often work with that might be useful connections for your efforts. It also contains a “Contact Us” link to ask questions or share success stories.

Contact Find Toolkit Online here: v Contact Find Toolkit Online here: www.SourceWaterCollaborative.org/swp-conservation-partners-toolkit [Add your contact information]