Partnerships
Managing a national forest as large and varied as the Allegheny National Forest requires the efforts of dedicated partners who contribute greatly to the successful management of forest resources. Our partners help maintain recreation sites and trails, reduce hazardous fuels, restore watersheds, monitor wildlife populations, improve wildlife and fisheries habitat, inventory and monitor archeological and historic sites, provide input to proposed management activities, conduct conservation education programs, and respond to emergency incidents. Our partners include a number of federal agencies, tribes, State of Michigan, conservation organizations, universities, public entities and private citizens. Their assistance is provided through a number of avenues including various grants, partnerships, and volunteer efforts.
Allegheny Watershed Improvement Needs (WINs) Coalition
The Allegheny Watershed Improvement Needs (WINs) Coalition’s mission is to promote protection, restoration, and habitat improvement activities in watersheds that lie entirely or partially in the Allegheny National Forest to achieve Forest Service and community needs through collaboration and partnerships.
The group is governed by a steering committee made up of representatives of municipal, county, state and federal government agencies, and leaders of various non-profit organizations such as the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, and local watershed organizations. The lessons learned and successes shared serve as an excellent example of the power of partnership and collaboration among agencies and organizations.
Allegheny WINs Coalition Charter
To promote protection, restoration, and habitat improvement activities in watersheds that lie entirely or partially in the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) to achieve Forest Service and community needs through collaboration and partnerships.
Scope the WINS Coalition includes:
- Develop an inventory of potential projects
- Prioritize and implement projects that:
- Protect & improve high quality watersheds & aquatic ecosystems
- Restore impaired watersheds & aquatic ecosystems
- Maximize partnerships, mutual benefit, and funding
- Promote communication, cooperation, and coordination among local, regional, and national agencies & organizations.
- Raise awareness of the Watershed Improvement Needs, available resources, and future restoration opportunities on or near the ANF.
- Initiate educational activities that raise public awareness of watersheds and aquatic ecosystem health.
- Leverage resources and assist one another in the completion of priority projects by:
- Utilizing Stewardship End Results Contracting (SERC.)
- Taking advantage of grants, in-kind services, and other available funding sources
- Utilizing the Wyden Amendment, which allows the ANF to assist partners across boundaries
- Follow-up and evaluation of ongoing and completed projects.
Deliverables Include
- Inventory of potential projects
- Guidelines for ranking and prioritizing projects
- List of prioritized potential projects
- WINS templates/checklist for consistent project development, implementation, and monitoring
- Annual report identifying completed, ongoing, and future projects
The Coalition will reevaluate its Charter every year.
The main criteria of success for the WINS Coalition are to:
- Build a diverse coalition
- Complete an inventory of projects
- Implement priority projects
- stream assessments
- riparian restoration
- upland and aquatic habitat improvements
- Outreach
A tentative schedule of project planning:
July 2007:
- Draft charter developed by Working Committee.
- Draft released to Coalition members for individual review and comments.
August 2007:
- Coalition meeting to:
- approve Charter
- communicate, coordinate and collaborate
- begin working to complete Coalition objectives.
- Charter approval by Forest Service Leadership Team.
- Begin individual inventories of potential projects.
- Provide a list of projects already through NEPA that are funded as a starting place.
September 2007:
- Continue coordinating individual “partner” projects
- SERC project discussion
- Continue developing long-term goals and objectives for Coalition
November 2007:
- Refine Projects
January 2008:
- Prioritized list of potential projects through collaboration.
- Finalize SERC proposal(s) for submission.
April 2008:
- SERC projects submitted to Forest Service Regional Office for review/approval.
- Evaluate Charter and processes making suggestions for improvement.
- Annual report identifying completed, ongoing, and future projects.
The Coalition will complete well-designed projects utilizing the best available sciences to meet its goals and the goals of the local communities.
The Coalition will take into account projects developed by other groups, and utilize knowledge already learned.
The Coalition will coordinate its work with Forest Service leadership, resource specialists, and staff.
The Coalition will work with other agencies/organizations to promote Coalition efforts.
The Coalition will be represented at “partners” meetings.
The Coalition will be represented at “regional” and “national” restoration meetings.