What is PWAW?

PWAW stands for Protecting the Water of the Arid West. The program is a two-year initiative funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under their targeted watershed capacity building program and administered by TWP. The goal of the initiative is to enhance the abilities of watershed groups to understand, protect, and restore their home waters by providing a network of supportive capacity-building services.

Who are TWP's program partners?

TWP's program partners are the

• Colorado Watershed Assembly
• Montana Watershed Coordination Council
• Utah Watershed Coodinators Council
• Wind River Alliance
• Rosebud Sioux Tribe

PWAW activities will take place in Colorado, Montana, Utah, on the Wind River reservation in Wyoming, and on the Rosebud Sioux reservation in South Dakota. Watershed groups in other areas are not eligible to receive PWAW assistance.

All watershed groups in the project region (see above) are eligible to receive services. TWP considers any group that uses the watershed approach as qualifying as a watershed group. According to the EPA, the "watershed approach":

• Is hydrologically defined, geographically focused, and includes all stressors (air and water);
• Involves all public (federal, state, local) and private sector stakeholders, is community based, and includes a coordinating framework; and
• Strategically addresses priority water resource goals (e.g. water quality, habitat), integrates multiple programs (regulatory and voluntary), is based on sound science, is aided by strategic watershed plans, and uses adaptive management.

What services are available to watershed groups under PWAW?

PWAW services are divided into two categories:

1. those provided by TWP across the project region, and
2. those provided by our state and tribal program partners.

TWP regional services support capacity building efforts focused on organizational development. These services are provided primarily one-on-one to help individual groups with their priority development needs. The TWP team provides assistance in a range of areas, including:

• fundraising
• Board development
• strategic planning
• database management
• community involvement
• volunteer management
• coaching
• stakeholder reviews
• measurement
• assessment and evaluation

TWP regional services also include watershed partnerships where the TWP team provides intensive, on-going support and assistance on multiple issues to select groups.

TWP will also provide workshops and training sessions at annual meetings, conference, and rallies. If watershed groups in the same region share similar needs, TWP may be able to provide assistance and support to multiple groups at a regional level.

In addition, near the conclusion of the PWAW initiative, TWP will conduct a regional roundtable to bring partners together and discuss key issues and findings.

What do you mean by "watershed partnerships"?

Trees, Water & People seeks individual watershed groups to develop partnerships to support their capacity building efforts.

Each partnership will vary depending on the needs and interest of the selected watershed group. All partnerships, however, will be mutually beneficial, on-going relationships. Instead of a single training or a one-time technical assistance mission, assistance will revolve around a capacity building plan that will allow the group and TWP to systematically address capacity building needs. Training will include follow-up efforts, not only for evaluation purposes, but to answer questions and provide additional information. Site visits will be repeated so that complex issues such as fundraising and leadership needs may be addressed. Regular contact by phone and email will support on-site assistance to promote efficiency and effectiveness.

TWP’s potential areas of assistance focus on organizational development rather than technical issues. Examples include—but are not limited to—all of the areas discussed under TWP regional services.

The benefit TWP, EPA, and the wider community receive from these partnerships is to learn. By working together, numerous lessons and invaluable insights will be uncovered. It is our intention to write up and share these lessons and insights with others. As a result, a group’s willingness to share information and findings is a requirement of participation. TWP, however, is not looking for select or “model” watershed groups. We believe all groups have a story that is worth telling—no matter what their age, size, or budget. TWP is more interested in groups that need assistance and want to learn than groups with a high profile.

Selection criteria include evaluation of a group’s needs, willingness to share information, and contribution of matching funds. Partnerships are limited to two per state.

Who is on the TWP team for the PWAW program?

Over the last four years, TWP has supported over 150 training or coaching sessions given to more than 100 watershed groups as part of the National Watershed Health Project. TWP's PWAW team includes Richard Fox, Director of TWP's National Programs and past president and current Board member of the Colorado Watershed Assembly (CWA); Jim Webster, TWP's Director of Watershed Protection and PWAW Coordinator; and Marc Alston, TWP consultant and Resource Conservation Coach. Marc is also a CWA Board member.

Email Jim Webster, TWP's Director of Watershed Protection, or call him at 303-775-5242.

The application process varies depending on the service requested. In general, you will not be required to submit a formal, written proposal. Methods used to match watershed groups with services and make selections include a telephone or face-to-face interview and review of existing documents (such as reports, plans, and proposals). Following the interview and/or review, watershed groups will make a formal request for services to TWP. Groups selected to receive services will be required to complete a watershed group status report (this survey is available online at www.rivernetwork.org/partners/surveys.cfm).