Should Monterey County increase funding for outdoor environmental education programs in Salinas? Krystal Schneider

Background  Environmental Movement  Social awareness  1993 Return of the Natives  Non-profit organization  Population growth in Salinas  ~150,000 citizens

Policy Content  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  Clean Water Act  National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)  storm water requirements  control water pollution by regulating point sources and discharge water

Stakeholder Analysis For increasing  Environmentalists  Value: protection of the environment  Claim:  Assumption: Funding will create awareness within communities. Decreasing or Maintaining  Education System  Value: better testing scores  Claim:  Assumption:

Statement of Policy Options  Increase funding  Continue to decrease funding  Maintain the current funding

Evaluation of Policy Options  Effectiveness  Community Acceptance  Efficiency

Policy Options Effectiveness Community AcceptanceEfficiency Policy Option #1 Increase funding for outdoor environmental education programs in Salinas County. Pros: Increased funding for programs leads to an increase in environmental protection due to an increase of community awareness and concern. Cons: none Pros: The community understands how an increase in funding benefits the local environments and youths education. Cons: none Pros: The increase of funding is efficient in creating more environmental programs and not out weighting the benefits. Cons: decreases funding for other priorities in the city. Policy Option #2 Continue to decrease funding for outdoor environmental programs in Salinas County. Pros: none Cons: Does not enhance protection for the environment and natural resources. Pros: Community acceptance and support in funding going to other needs in Salinas. Cons: There is less awareness of environmental impacts, and the community does not understand what is trying to be achieved. Pros: There is an increase of funding for other priorities in Salinas, such as enforcement and health. Cons: Current environmental programs shut down due to low funding. Policy Option #3 Make no changes to the amount of funding for outdoor environmental education programs in Salinas County. Pros: Current funding protects the “current local projects” resulting in environmental protection. Cons: None. Pros: The community understands the need for funding for environmental programs Cons: Community members do not understand how this policy is supposed to widen its boundaries with a non- growing budget. Pros: Funding left for other priorities Cons: Funding is not at what it needs to be to be able to involve other schools.

Prioritization of Assumptions  Protection of the Environment  Community Awareness  Education  Federal  Defense  Medicare  Health

Concessions  Decreased funding for other priorities  Citizens use of programs?  No one really seams to know much about current policies  Little authority from the environmental education supervisor (check name)  Increased social awareness of impacts to the local environments Limitations

Consequences  Community members are unaware  Increased debris  Natividad Creek Park  Healthier environments  Decreased pollution Implications

Justification  Future  One Earth  Recommendation  Increase funding!!! Conclusion