Public participation is an essential component of the RAP process.  To implement the RAP and achieve its goals, all interested entities need to be involved in developing and maintaining a dynamic plan.  A major aspect of outreach activities is to actively engage all stakeholders and involve all interested parties in the update and maintenance of the RAP.  The outreach will also include an exchange of  information at all appropriate decision making stages, build understanding and public support of the RAP, pursue community participation and seek to utilize community resources.

                                                                    1-19-2005    Dave Derrick's Habitat Restoration Class

                                                                    6-13-2005    Newfane Environmental Fair

                                                                    8-09-2005    Dave Derrick's Buffalo Bioengineering Workshop

                                                                    6-14-2006    Newfane Environmental Fair

                                                                    6-13-2007    Newfane Environmental Fair

                                                                    6-18-2008    Newfane Environmental Fair - coming soon

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Click to join Eighteenmile Creek AOC Network  

1.

Identify and facilitate communication between the vast array of stakeholders within the Eighteenmile Creek AOC. Stakeholders are those individuals, organizations and agencies that have a vested interest in the AOC’s health, viability, remediation and de-listing status. Stakeholders are identified from the environmental, agriculture, government, corporate and private sectors. The initial project partners being contacted and asked to participate in the Network by sharing project information, identifying problems, needed information, government program constraints or opportunities, and to make available to the Network their perspectives on needs, priorities, and implementation strategies. Then, participation is expected to grow through an initial e-mail and snail mail announcement, word of mouth, a press release and internet activity. Stakeholders will have the opportunity to view network information via the Eighteenmile Creek Remedial Action Plan (RAP) website. The website provides information on RAP projects, AOC and RAP news, extensive organizational and project partner links, existing data and provides information on topics pertinent to restore the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the ecosystem in the Eighteenmile Creek AOC.  Stakeholder groups also have the opportunity to use the Network as a forum to present concerns, informational deficiencies, and implementation strategies.  The Network views this service as a mechanism to provide all stakeholders with a better understanding of issues, perspectives, and background for the differing positions stakeholder groups have or are evolving.  These are not considered the position of the Network, but a communication service to facilitate clearer understanding of issues.

2.

Provide stakeholders with information needed to understand or address issues regarding the AOC.  This includes information on existing or developing RAP management projects within the AOC, with the purpose of understanding lessons learned, successes, failures, and to create an active network of individuals or sites to function as references for other AOC stakeholder groups.  In addition, information of specific interest to stakeholders will be sought and presented on the site.  Stakeholders, especially the general public, have the opportunity to define informational gaps in their understanding of jargon, management concepts, regulatory proposals, or other issues in which agency or hosting organizations assume public understanding of ideas, terminology, and concepts.  Network staff expects to respond to these requests for information by tapping into the existing network of science organization or through their own research of the AOC data Repository.

3.

To create a dynamic communication mechanism to share ideas on important, contemporary topics.  These discussions will operate via a web-based listserv process.  An important difference between this type of electronic discussion forum and others currently operating, is that these discussions will be summarized on a monthly basis.  Summary papers being posted on the website so the content and value of each topical discussion is not lost over time.  Any individual will be able to at any time, go back and review past discussions, find participant names and email addresses, etc.  Topics will include a variety of topics including watershed-based management, Mississippi River management, water quality regulatory strategies, and a host of others Stakeholder participants feel are important for group discussion and input.   As part of this dynamic communication goal, the Network will also summarize input on management issues, concerns, or comments on informational deficiencies pertinent to government discussions on these subjects.  This information will be regularly provided to specific State and Federal agencies tasked with these responsibilities.  The Network hopes that this could, over time, become and important mechanism for public input to government water quality, watershed, land, and River management processes.

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                    THIS WEBSITE WAS CREATED IN COOPERATION WITH THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY