1) Opening Questions:

What are some ways the regional can do a better job of vertical and lateral communication? What are we trying to accomplish?

• The Water Board is not getting enough advice on grant priorities during review—need a forum to review proposals and priorities
• Can SFBJV management committee have a couple of functions -- as a voice in Sacramento as well as weighing in on grant proposals?
• Priorities can be policies or projects
• State Coastal Conservancy can use similar support when developing grant projects
• The Flood Group of the IRWMP created a Forum which could be a focus to vet projects that go on the next round of IRWMP funding. Is that a model for us to consider?
• The Water Group is also organized within IRWMP.
• Maybe same kind of coordination is needed for watersheds -- and then who should be considered a member of the watershed “forum?” How about water districts, flood control districts as well as identifiable watershed entities or advocates?
• Proposed Regional Watershed Forum Group:
• Needs scientific expertise/technical expertise
• Allows for groups that don’t have representation in other forums
• Contra Costa County Watershed Forum is good model, to link County to larger Bay Area. CCCWF also supports watershed councils in their county.
• More grassroots participation needed; how do you effectively involve grassroots groups? One option might be for the County to convene grassroots groups as Contra Costa County has done.
• Trial balloon idea: Technical assistance and capacity can be written up as a “project” for the IRWMP.
• Who should this group include: County representatives involved in land use planning, regional entities interested in the resource, grassroots organizations that identify reps to this larger forum
• Trial balloon idea: Write grant to IRWMP to fund a Watershed Forum and fund local capacity building
• These reps would meet periodically to address Bay area funding, communicating with Sacramento from the region, etc. This type of Forum needs to be funded, should not be affiliated with a specific interest group.
• Look at other states (e.g., Montana?) for models
• Need to think about how to create a sustainable structure
• Role of Regional Watershed Forum:
• Pursue regional funding
• Communicate with Sacramento
• Establish and nurture regional groups
• Develop regional goals as per the Regional Watershed Plan (SCC)
• Include local targets in Regional Plan
• Look at Contra Costa County Watershed Forum as model for this Forum
• Cautions:

1. Don’t impose sub-regional model—they need to be developed locally, by self-identified groups.
2. Structure needs to be dictated by purpose of group (form follows function)
3. Accountability: need multiple objectives on regional basis
4. Incorporating land use/setbacks/takings huge challenge: maybe not do-able?

2) Next Steps:

1. Produce Project Description of Regional Watershed Forum for inclusion in the IRWMP. Project description of a Bay Area Regional Watershed Forum – network of resource agencies, NGOs, Public Works departments. Would prioritize funding and achieving watershed plan goals.
   Lead: Nadine Hitchcock
2. Develop IRWMP grant request to develop sub-regional groups/capacity building. Project description of an IRWMP project to create Contra Costa County type water councils/forums around the Bay Area to assist with vertical linkage.
   Lead: Nadine Hitchcock
3. Develop policy at Regional Board on watershed management. Riley will coordinate regional criteria for funding, land use coordination, assisting counties, setting up communications with Sacramento
   Lead: Riley
4. Develop proposal for a 9-county regional resource bond initiative.
   Lead: Nadine Hitchcock
5. Follow up on applicability of Environmental License plate funding possibilities
   Lead: Bay Area Open Space Council [?]

3) Post-Meeting Suggestion of Follow–up Actions for the Working Group:

• Work with the IRWMP planning process to include the support of a regional watershed coordination entity and to make capacity building for watershed partnerships eligible for financial support. (lead: Nadine Hitchcock)
• Develop policies for the Water Board that support the use of watershed partnerships to inform regional grants and funding priorities and for improving its regulatory programs so that they are more responsive to watershed-based needs and the needs of those trying to attain permits in an appropriate timely manner (lead: A.L.Riley.)
• Sponsor once a year regional watershed forums to foster networking and coordination among the diverse “watershed community’ stakeholders. Help support and link working groups with each other. (leads: Marcia Brockbank, Beth Huning, A.L.Riley, Dale Hopkins)