Plan of Work - Phil Auger, Land and Water Conservation Educator (2008) (APPROVED)
For reporting years: (2008,2009,2010,2011,2012), Created by Philip Auger (New Hampshire)
Info
(Show details)Logic Model Overview:
This plan of work is for the UNH Cooperative Extension Land and Water Conservation Educator position in Rockingham County.
Situation:
The Land and Water Conservation Educator deals with issues related to rapid population growth in southeastern New Hampshire, the fastest growing state in the northeast. This region has and is predicted to continue to be the fastest growing portion of the state for the next twenty years. The NH Office of Energy and Planning predicts that 82% of all growth in the state will occur in Hillsborough, Rockingham, Strafford and the southern half of Merrimack Counties.
Growth has significant negative impacts natural resources, natural resource based industries and community character. Water quality is already the leading natural resource issue in the state. Based on population projections for 2025 existing public water supplies will be inadequate. Public and private water suppliers and private water bottlers are beginning to compete for the remaining groundwater resource sites. The forest products and agricultural based industries have been drastically reduced due to a shortage of adequate open space acreage.
Communities in this region have responded to the loss of open space by devoting significant funding and volunteer efforts into land conservation. At the same time private regional land conservation organizations have evolved here. These organizations have provided leadership in identifying and beginning conservation work in the key remaining resource areas.
The Land and Water Conservation Educator position is a link with all of these partners. Extension has a long tradition of working directly with significant landowners in the state who own the bulk of lands devoted to agriculture and forestry. Consequently the Extension Educator is often the first contact for the landowner. The Extension link with communities is a similar. Community Profiles, the Community Conservation Assistance Program and direct assistance with conservation commissions build community awareness of Extension’s work in this arena.
Stakeholder Input
The stakeholders in the Land and Water Conservation Educator position are private landowners, communities, private conservation organizations and state agencies. Input from these groups is largely derived from one on one interaction. The Land and Water Conservation Educator typically is a presenter in more than 20 workshops per year. These offer opportunities for traditional evaluation methods. There are numerous opportunities throughout the year for conservation partners to meet and discuss strategies that directly affect what role this position will have in project related activities.
Assumptions
The need for land conservation in the Great Bay watershed will continue to escalate. This will be driven by communities, private conservation organizations and, to a lesser extent, natural resource dependant state and federal agencies. Communities are becoming more and more aware of the negative impacts of growth on community character. Many studies have also clearly demonstrated that there are serious negative fiscal impacts to many aspects of growth, particularly most forms of year round residential construction. Private conservation organizations will continue to press for additional conserved lands in this region with the realization that there may only be a decade or two left before much of the landscape is at or near “build out”. Natural resource dependant state and federal agencies are under similar pressures. These agencies recognize that without ample open space lands, plant and wildlife habitats are threatened and there may not be suitable places for traditional recreational pursuits such as hunting and fishing in this region.
The need for publicly supported conservation funding mechanisms will increase. Yet funding for land conservation will most likely continue to be in short supply with occasional periods of reasonably adequate supply. There will be a continued reliance on community based funding to leverage state and federal land conservation dollars. This will create a funding picture that varies drastically from community to community as it does today. Finally the Land and Community Heritage Investment Program will have to find an adequate long-term funding mechanism in order to be relied on by communities as a match program.
External Factors
The real estate market, availability of land to conserve, conservation interests of private landowners, public conservation funding, existence of strong private conservation organizations and county and private funding for this position are all external factors to this position.
Evaluation Overview
This position will be evaluated by traditional workshop evaluations, annual program reviews by the Program Leader and most importantly by demand for services.
Outcomes
Condition Outcome: A diverse range of community members - both communities of place and communities of interest - will become effectively engaged in planning, decision-making, needs assessment, community action and evaluation of community efforts.
Condition Outcome: Communities contain volunteers with a life-long commitment to conservation.
Condition Outcome: Community leaders have a solid understanding of current and emerging needs/issues for decision making about their community’s future
Condition Outcome: Conserve and protect land, water and open space.
Condition Outcome: Critical wildlife habitats are protected in the state.
Condition Outcome: Forests are a significant contributor to the state's economy.
Condition Outcome: Groups and organizations effectively mobilize available resources – technical assistance, information, and contacts – to achieve their mission/goals.
Condition Outcome: Improve the quality of life for people living in urban and rural communities by protecting and enhancing the natural environment.
Condition Outcome: Increase the level of land conservation that ensures working landscapes
Condition Outcome: Individuals and groups from communities gain new leadership skills that enable them to empower others to engage in community activities/projects.
Condition Outcome: Lands are managed in a way that does not degrade soil or water resources
Condition Outcome: Leaders guide communities in a more effective manner, ensuring change is made in an organized and inclusive way.
Condition Outcome: Maintain significant open space, including large, contiguous blocks of intact forest that remain under long-term consistent management.
Condition Outcome: Maintain the biodiversity of the state - plants, animals and natural communities.
Condition Outcome: New Hampshire's forests remain healthy and productive.
Condition Outcome: NH communities are sustained socially, economically and environmentally
Condition Outcome: NH licensed foresters increase their business opportunities through referrals from UNHCE Forestry and Wildlife staff.
Condition Outcome: Open space is maintained and enhanced due to effective local and regional planning and the identification and establishment of shared community values
Condition Outcome: Reduce the rate of open space loss
Condition Outcome: Residents of New Hampshire communities build strong connections with neighbors and other community members.
Condition Outcome: UNHCE continuously works to become a learning organization that includes a culture of reflective educational practices that supports and promotes excellence in education and continually responds to changing needs
Condition Outcome: UNHCE has a clear identity and is more widely-known, used and supported by NH residents and elected officials as the source of credible, unbiased, university-based education and information.
Condition Outcome: UNHCE serves as an example to other organizations and individuals regarding diversity principles.
Condition Outcome: UNHCE serves audiences protected under Federal statute and are proactive in reaching out to people who would otherwise not participate in Extension offerings.
Condition Outcome: UNHCE staff adhere to the law and the spirit of the law when developing and implementing programs.
Condition Outcome: Water quality in lakes, streams and estuaries improves or is maintained at acceptable levels
Learning Outcome: (Show details)
- Indicator: DIV1 - UNHCE meets and exceeds standards for USDA CSREES, UNH and internal Civil Rights audits
- Evaluation plan: Extension programs in two counties are successfully audited each year
- Indicator: DIV2 - Increase in use of Civil Rights/accommodation notices on marketing and program materials.
- Evaluation plan:
Education Information and Marketing unit staff annually review a sample of Extension marketing and programming materials for appropriate use of the civil rights accommodation notice
- Evaluation plan:
- Indicator: F&W10 - # of Tree Steward and Coverts who volunteer each year beyond the required 40 hour commitment. (statewide target is 25 Tree Stewards and Coverts)
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: The Forestry and Wildlife Program tracks ongoing actions of trained volunteers including required work done beyond program requirements. UNHCE maintains a census of trained volunteers active in NH.
- Indicator: F&W3 - # of new landowners engaged with a forester or natural resources professional for the first time or for the first time in 10 or more years. (statewide target is 50 new landowners).
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan, Coastal MA
- Evaluation plan: Assessed through site visits, NH Tree Farm Program records direct contact with land owners and natural resources professionals.
- Indicator: F&W4 - # of volunteers in conservation work in NH communities as a result of training and continued work by UNHCE primarily in the Coverts and Community Tree Stewards programs. (statewide target is 500 volunteers)(Relates to L&W1 and L&W6)
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: The Forestry and Wildlife Program tracks ongoing actions of trained volunteers including required work and work done beyond program requirements. UNHCE maintains a census of trained volunteers active in NH.
- Indicator: F&W5 - # of NH licensed foresters trained by UNHCE in each of the two-year licensing period for CEUs. (statewide target is 80% or 240 out of 300 licensed foresters)
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: Comparison of the official list of NH licensed foresters from state records with he actual attendance list for forester licensing CEU programs at the end of each two-year period.
- Indicator: F&W6 - Increase the working knowledge of 1,000 people who influence the forest environment of NH through workshops, seminars, or educational events annually (Relates to L&W6 and L&W1)
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: The Forestry and Wildlife program tracks workshops and participants and includes this in the USFS report.
- Indicator: F&W7 - # of NH communities engaged in natural resource inventories or natural heritage assessments to identify natural assets. (statewide target is 10 communities annually) (Relates to SGWR16)
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: Assessed via community-based information through CCAP, multi-community information and direct landowner contact.
- Indicator: F&W8- # of acres in which landowners engage in developing conservation easements in NH each year. (statewide target is 10,000 acres)
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: Assessed through community-based information such as CCAP, land trust records and direct landowner contact
- Indicator: F&W9 - # of licensed foresters who increase business opportunities through referrals from UNHCE staff - thereby sustaining a cadre of private sector licensed foresters offering services to the public. (statewide target is 100 licensed foresters making 300 referrals)
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: The Forestry and Wildlife Program tracks this information and includes it in the USFS report.
- Indicator: L&W1 - 200 community leaders, volunteers and others increase knowledge about natural resource and land conservation topics by attending 10 workshops in different parts of the state. (Relates to F&W6 and SNHC9)
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: This program will be evaluated using these methods:
- Short term individual program and event evaluations (at the time of the programs)
- Observation of client behavior by staff
- Periodic staff evaluation of programs as part of ongoing program planning
- Indicator: L&W2 - 50 community decision-makers identify actions they will take to conserve the state's biodiversity. (Relates to F&W4)
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: This program will be evaluated using these methods:
- Short term individual program and event evaluations (at the time of the programs)
- Observation of client behavior by staff
- Periodic staff evaluation of programs as part of ongoing program planning
- Indicator: L&W6 - 200 landowners increase knowledge about forest management, land conservation and water quality protection (Relates to F&W6)
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: This program will be evaluated using these methods:
- Short term individual program and event evaluations (at the time of the programs)
- Observation of client behavior by staff
- Periodic staff evaluation of programs as part of ongoing program planning
- Indicator: L&W9 - 50 realtors learn about natural resource contributions to property values
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: This program will be evaluated using these methods:
- Short term individual program and event evaluations (at the time of the programs)
- Observation of client behavior by staff
- Periodic staff evaluation of programs as part of ongoing program planning
- Indicator: SNHC1-20 citizens take on new leadership roles within their community (Relates to 4H8 & SNHC09-10)
- Reporter: Charlie French
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: Follow up interviews with training attendees
- Indicator: SNHC10-Community residents identify and implement projects and activities that reflect their community’s needs and wants. (Relates to 4H4)
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: One year after community participatory processes, a survey of community action committees determines implementation of projects and activities related to identified needs.
- Indicator: SNHC2-10 steering/planning committees help facilitate a minimum of 10 Community Profiles/ thematic processes that create a minimum of 30 action groups.
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan:
Track the number of committees, profiles and action groups as well as contact with action group members.
- Indicator: SNHC3-Up to 15 action groups/committees utilize UNH Cooperative Extension expertise in collaborative planning with other agencies/organizations around the state to preserve and conserve open space.
- Reporter: Charlie French
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: Track the number of groups/communities that utilize UNHCE expertise to preserve and conserve open space
- Indicator: SNHC4 - With Extension's assistance, 15 communities implement mechanisms/tools to analyze the current situation and identify emerging issues to be addressed.
- Reporter: Charlie French
- Evaluation plan:
Review data from participatory processes just after the process takes place and one year later for community identification of and action on issues identified
- Indicator: SNHC6-30 community leaders develop a new understanding of the issues facing their community
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: One year after a community participatory process, community leaders will be surveyed on their understanding of community issues
- Indicator: SNHC7-A minimum of 10 action groups/committees engage diverse audiences in planning for the economic viability of their communities.
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: Track the diversity of participation in community forums on economic issues
- Indicator: SNHC8- A minimum of 100 citizens and community leaders develop a better understanding of local land use planning and zoning policies (Relates to LW2, SGWR25)
- Location: Belknap, Carroll, Cheshire, Coos, Grafton, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford, Sullivan
- Evaluation plan: Post test determining change in understanding
Inputs and Outputs
Program: Administrative Time (Show details)Outputs
Attend Staff Meetings (Show details)| Delivery method: | Group Discussion |
Planning and Reporting (Show details)
| Delivery method: | other- direct |
Miscellaneous administrative work (Show details)
| Delivery method: | other- direct |
Advisory Council Meetings (Show details)
| Delivery method: | Group Discussion |
Inputs:
(Show details)Effort:
| Reporting Year | Days | Seasonal Staff Days |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 5 | 0 |
| 2009 | 5 | 0 |
| 2010 | 5 | 0 |
| 2011 | 5 | 0 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 |
Program: Forestry & Wildlife (Show details)
Outputs
Conduct, sponsor, co-sponsor or provide educational expertise for workshops, seminars or educational events. (Show details)| Delivery method: | Workshop (s) | ||||||||||||
Audiences: |
|||||||||||||
| Primary audience: |
|||||||||||||
| Participant type: | Adults | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numbers: |
|
||||||||||||
| Locales: | Rockingham | | ||||||||||||
Develop statewide and regional coordinated/standardized programs accomplished by Forestry and Wildlife staff working iindividually or in teams. (Show details)
| Delivery method: | Workshop (s) |
Develop messages and strategies using ownership size, watershed location or landscape location. Audiences, messages and strategies may differ by location in the state. (Show details)
| Delivery method: | Group Discussion |
Develop key messages for landowners consistent with our public awareness strategy. (Show details)
| Delivery method: | Workshop (s) |
Develop a checklist of topics to cover on site visits (Show details)
| Delivery method: | Group Discussion |
Landowner outreach to reach new clientele (Show details)
| Delivery method: | One-on-One Consultation |
Develop materials to help landowners make informed decisons when selling timber and disseminate these materials through town offices and other means. (Show details)
| Delivery method: | other-indirect |
Grants - Development & Maintenance (Show details)
| Delivery method: | other- direct |
Inputs:
(Show details)Effort:
| Reporting Year | Days | Seasonal Staff Days |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 156 | 0 |
| 2009 | 156 | 0 |
| 2010 | 156 | 0 |
| 2011 | 156 | 0 |
| 2012 | 156 | 0 |
Program: Individual Staff Professional Development Plans (Show details)
Outputs
Professional development (Show details)| Delivery method: | Education Class |
Inputs:
(Show details)Effort:
| Reporting Year | Days | Seasonal Staff Days |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 12 | 0 |
| 2009 | 12 | 0 |
| 2010 | 12 | 0 |
| 2011 | 12 | 0 |
| 2012 | 12 | 0 |
Program: Land and Water (Show details)
Outputs
COMMUNITY NATURAL RESOURCE BASED STEWARDSHIP 2. Provide focused training and long-term assistance to communities on natural resource planning and land conservation.
a. Provide direct assistance to towns and conservation groups upon request. b. Conduct land conservation and natural resources workshops and other educational activities as suggested by program staff and as requested by communities and conservation groups. c.Provide guidance to UNH Senior Project Teams assisting communities with natural resource conservation projects. d. Plan and conduct the Saving Special Places Conference. e. Conduct the Natural Resources Outreach Coalition program for communities selected annually. f. Produce printed, presentation, web and other educational materials.
(Show details)| Delivery method: | Education Class | ||||||||||||
Audiences: |
|||||||||||||
| Primary audience: |
|||||||||||||
| Participant type: | Adults | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numbers: |
|
||||||||||||
| Locales: | Rockingham | | ||||||||||||
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - Encourage homeowners to reduce phosphorus application to lawns and gardens. a. Market pre-paid soil test kits to homeowners through garden centers and Extension offices. b. Implement soil testing for homes and grounds, with revised (low-P) recommendations and c. Persuade garden centers and retailers to carry appropriate products. (Show details)
| Delivery method: | One-on-One Consultation |
Inputs:
(Show details)Effort:
| Reporting Year | Days | Seasonal Staff Days |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 26 | 0 |
| 2009 | 26 | 0 |
| 2010 | 26 | 0 |
| 2011 | 26 | 0 |
| 2012 | 26 | 0 |
Total numbers for plan:
| 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Days | 199 | 199 | 199 | 199 | 199 |
| Grant Days | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Integrated Research | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Multistate | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seasonal Staff Days | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Plan History
| Date | Person |
|---|---|
| 10/02/2007 | Rolled over from previous year by Philip Auger |
| 10/05/2007 | Approved by Darrel Covell |
| 11/13/2008 | Rolled over by Lisa Townson |
