National Park Service (NPS) Grant: Funding River Network for Local River Conservation and Watershed Protection Initiatives

OVERVIEW

This project will develop tools and training for local river and watershed protection and organizational development. Through this partnership NPS and River Network will:
(1) Promote local river conservation and protection efforts by communities. This work may include the development of local river protections tools and model river protection projects.
(2) Support collaborative planning, implementation, and sponsorship of education and training opportunities including River Rally, which brings together watershed protection agencies and organizations for workshops and intensive trainings as well as bringing conservation groups and public agencies together to address the latest river conservation ideas, programs, activities, and strategies.
(3) Advancing river protection through partnerships between the NPS, River Network, and other federal, regional, state, and local initiatives, including but not limited to the Federal Urban Waters Partnership and America�s Great Outdoors. Continuing efforts to identify and engage new organizations and individuals as partners in local river protection activities.
(4) Funding for local river protection-related activities: Identifying potential sources of public and private funding to support local river protection projects, education, outreach, and other activities undertaken by the NPS, River Network, and their partners.
(5) Carry out other projects of mutual interest and public benefit in such areas as promotion, research, interagency coordination, technical assistance, and training related to river conservation and management issues.

STATEMENT OF JOINT OBJECTIVES/PROJECT MANAGEMENT PLAN

Cooperate to the fullest extent to promote and support local, statewide, and national river and watershed conservation through shared leadership in developing partnerships to advance local river protection goals. Meet and communicate regularly, as consistent with an annual work plan, and prepare the results of partnership efforts.

RECIPIENT INVOLVEMENT

Provide leadership in education and training activities, in developing resources and tools to advance local river protection, and in collecting and distributing funding information for projects, education, outreach, and other projects related to this Agreement.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE INVOLVEMENT

The NPS has a vested interest in providing assistance to this project so that partners at the local and national level will be better able to conserve and protect their local water resources. NPS will work closely with River Network to assist in education and training activities, in collecting resources and tools for river protection that benefits local projects, and in collecting and distributing funding information for projects, education, outreach, and other activities related to this Agreement.