STRATEGIC PLAN
 
OUR MISSION
 
To facilitate an inclusive consensus process to preserve, restore, and enhance the economic, social, and ecological health of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed through education, research, and planning.
 
Download  a PDF of our 2008-2012 Strategic Plan
 
 
OVERARCHING GOAL STATEMENTS
 
Water: The Los Angeles region needs to reduce its reliance on imported water. In order to achieve this long term outcome, we need to improve the quality and reliability of our local water resources, by increasing conservation, recycling, and use of surface water and groundwater, and reduce stormwater runoff to the sea. Water in the rivers needs to promote a healthy native habitat both in the stream channels and receiving waters.
   
Land: We need to create and nurture a sense of place, or landscape ethic, which values the native landscape to achieve our long term goal of increasing the amount of habitat for native flora and fauna at the same time we reduce our use of water.
   
Planning: Watershed assessment, planning, and management require integration of scientific, policy, and economic data, taking into consideration community and government needs and constraints. Implementation of plans requires both on-the-ground capacity and regional input, along with organizations that commit to working for the long haul.
 
It is within the context of these three goal statements, adopted by the Board in 2006, that the following goals and objectives flow. Our goals and objectives are categorized into four Key Results Areas:
 
● Education and Outreach
 
● Research and Monitoring
 
● Integrated Planning and Management
 
● Sustaining the Organization
 
 
KEY RESULT AREAS, STRATEGIC GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES
 
Education and Outreach
 
Goal: The Watershed Council will work to influence policy change by providing leadership and promoting understanding and awareness of the importance of a watershed approach to resource management issues among policy-makers in government, business, and community organizations
 
Objective 1: Increase water supply and quality through promoting more efficient use of stormwater resources.
   
a. Build the Sun Valley Neighborhood Retrofit demonstration at Elmer Street.
b. Write an operations and maintenance manual, and conduct trainings for City staff and residents, for the demonstration.
c. Write a regional strategy report on the potential for infiltration to create new water supply.
d. Update and reissue Stormwater: Asset Not Liability.
 
Objective 2: Foster a landscape ethic that supports the use of native and regionally appropriate vegetation and reduces the use of water on landscapes.
   
a. Offer Sustainable Landscape Design and Maintenance Seminar series at least twice per year.
b. Develop and offer Sustainable Landscape Maintenance trainings, including the maintenance manual template, once per year.
c. Update the Plant Profiler.
d. Distribute existing and develop additional invasive plant materials and information.
e. Inventory water use efficient landscape ordinances and conduct outreach to cities and parks departments regarding best practices.
f. Develop and disseminate a resilient “California friendly” plant palette for high use commercial landscapes.
 
Objective 3: Promote the application of a watershed approach directly to policy-makers.
   
a. Hold Watershed Symposia/forums/workshops at least quarterly addressing issues of the day.
b. Publish an expanded magazine, WatershedWise, and add a periodic web-based newsletter.
c. Develop toolkits for cities to develop general plan guidelines for water and watershed elements.
d. Develop and fund a program for education and outreach to policy-makers.
 
Objective 4: Influence legislation and local ordinances to advance the mission and vision of the Watershed Council.
   
a. Adopt legislative policy goals to guide staff interactions with elected officials.
b. Collaborate with affiliated organizations and stakeholders regarding regional and statewide policies related to our mission and vision.
c. Meet regularly with State legislators and agency staff.
d. Meet regularly with local elected officials and their staff.
 
Research and Monitoring
 
Goal: The Watershed Council will inform and improve watershed protection, restoration, and revitalization through sound science and research-based monitoring.
 
Objective 5: Measure and track water quality for the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers.
   
a. Issue water quality monitoring reports annually, starting with 2005 for San Gabriel River.
b. Issue water quality monitoring reports annually, starting with 2008 for Los Angeles River.
c. Monitor the impacts of the Sun Valley Neighborhood Retrofit (Elmer Street).
 
Objective 6: Assess the state of the watersheds to track progress in improving social and ecological health.
   
a. Research and write Indicators of Watershed Health report, in collaboration with both local and statewide partners.
b. Report on the health of a pilot watershed, in collaboration with local partners.
c. Issue State of the River/Watershed reports annually, starting in 2010 for San Gabriel River.
d. Issue State of the River/Watershed reports annually, starting in 2012 for Los Angeles River.
 
Objective 7: Assess, revitalize, and preserve remnant riparian and wetland habitats along the rivers.
   
a. Complete baseline vegetation maps of habitat along the river Right-of-Ways by 2008.
b. Continue the Weed Watch program, including the Comprehensive Invasive Plant Species Database.
c. Complete maps of native populations suitable for seed-collection; seeds collected appropriately; established network of native nurseries growing at least short-list plants for each watershed.
d. Expand our historic aerial photo collection to include all of the Los Angeles region and include historic hardcopy maps. Build an online clearinghouse that will allow stakeholders to use the data freely.
e. Assist in efforts to remove invasive non-native plants from rivers and streams.
 
Integrated Planning and Management.
 
Goal: The Watershed Council will provide leadership, guidance, and assistance, working with other agencies and organizations, to
affect sound watershed assessment, planning, and management.
Objective 8: Provide technical assistance/products/data (on a fee for service, contract basis, or through membership program)
for watershed-related planning efforts.
   
a. Provide GIS/mapping support to the Tujunga Watershed Management Plan as funded.
b. Develop large-format hardcopy reference maps for each subwatershed in the region.
c. Provide technical assistance on a fee-for-service or gratis basis, as appropriate, for watershed management planning and
project development.
 
Objective 9: Continue to develop & implement watershed goals and objectives, focusing work in disadvantaged communities.
   
a. Provide project development assistance to disadvantaged cities and organizations, focusing on under-represented communities, to develop multi-benefit projects identified in the Watershed Management Plan or the IRWMP.
b. Complete the Compton Creek Earthen Bottom Restoration Feasibility Study and provide recommendations for further work.
c. Complete the Compton Creek Daylighting Study.
d. Develop and complete collaborative studies based on recommendations for projects arising out of watershed goals & objectives; partner as appropriate on projects.
 
Objective 10: Work towards full implementation of the goals of the Greater Los Angeles County Integrated Regional Water Management Plan.
   
a. Participate on the Leadership Committee and three steering committees: upper Los Angeles River, Upper San Gabriel River, and Lower Los Angeles and Lower San Gabriel River watersheds.
b. Obtain additional funding for project prioritization and project development assistance for 10pt cities and disadvantaged communities.
 
Objective 11: Foster and facilitate sharing of data among and between agencies and organizations.
   
a. Participate in regional efforts and take a leadership role as appropriate to identify needs and actions to achieve the objective.
 
Sustaining the Organization.
 
Goal: The Watershed Council ensure its long-term sustainability to effectively carry out our long term vision.
 
Objective 12: Continuously assess and improve the performance and relevance of the Watershed Council.
   
a. Annually update the long term strategic plan and track progress.
b. Periodically review and revise staff and board policies and procedures.
c. Develop and implement a Board orientation and training program.
d. Improve our financial accountability and performance.
e. Organize watershed organization summits for Los Angeles County watershed groups to explore jurisdiction/service area issues.
 
Objective 13: Ensure the Watershed Council has sufficient funding to achieve its mission and goals.
   
a. Develop and implement a financial strategic plan for unrestricted and project-oriented funding.
b. Train program staff in grant writing and program planning.
 
Objective 14: Effectively communicate the results of the Watershed Council's work.
   
a. Develop a searchable, interactive website using the information currently hosted on the static site; build in database
applications for searching the Council's reference library, map library, and relevant data.
b. Develop and carry out a marketing and outreach strategy to publicize the results of the work of the Watershed Council and our stakeholders.