Campaign Planning

The North Coast Stream Flow Campaign elements include

  1. Public Education and Outreach: Media, Websites, Workshops, Schools/Colleges/Universities, Other Presentations, etc.
  2. Citizen Mobilization: Streamflow Monitoring, Enforcement Complaints, Action Alerts, etc.   
  3. Government (Policy) Advocacy
  4. Litigation (Targeted)
  5. Statewide Organizing and Coordination

Planning Retreat

A stellar retreat was held at the Jughandle and Nature Center on the Mendocino Coast on the weekend of October 16-18. In addition to conducting business, participants greatly enjoyed each others company and great food highlighted by the fresh barbequed albacore dinner on Saturday night prepared by retreat participant Craig Bell. During the day on Saturday and Sunday, the North Coast environmental activists assembled developed a framework for a coalition to get water back in our rivers and to help start a movement that promotes public trust protection

We shared case studies about the pervasive problem of lack of enforcement of laws protecting stream flows and fisheries. Magnificent North Coast rivers that once teamed with salmon are now dry for months each year. While learning the extent of the problem was somewhat depressing, the actions different groups have taken in response to the problem was inspiring.

Over the course of the weekend discussions ranged from legal strategies, public education, citizen monitoring and successful techniques for grassroots organizing. A panel discussion with attorneys Paul Carroll, Sharon Duggan, and Tom Lippe was among the highlights and lively discussions followed.

Facilitation expert Betsy Watson brought a team of professionals and interns and their skills allowed us to communicate better with each other and to get down to the business of planning how we will work together to be more effective on behalf of public trust protection.
Katie Glover put together notes from the retreat that recap discussions and highlight decisions. The group decided on provisional guidelines for coalition formation and decision making and those are being formulated and will be circulated to retreat participants and other potential members. The retreat also provide the basis for a Campaign Plan going forward that will be reviewed by coalition members.

Legal panel

Creating a campaign plan

All organizations which opt to join the coalition will be involved in reviewing and commenting on Campaign Plan drafts. Through this iterative process we will arrive at a Campaign Plan that has buy in from all coalition members. The steering committee selected for governance will be tasked with overseeing implementation of the Campaign Plan and will be involved in fundraising for the Campaign.

Retreat recordings will be transcribed to fully document proceedings of the meeting and to provide a basis for reviewing discussions so that the intentions of retreat participants can be reflected accurately in elements of the Campaign Plan. The North Coast River Flow Campaign Plan will be finalized by responding to comments from all cooperators and a final vote of the steering committee.

Power Mapping Resources

Physicians for Human Rights
The Change Agency     
Camp Wellstone