Measuring the Success of the Chehalis Basin Watershed Plan

This is clearly a complicated issue given the fact that the watershed plan is not yet final, given the many variables that impact water resources, and given the uncertainty about future governance of and funding for watershed plan implementation. One way to approach measuring success is to ask the following two questions:

1. What happens to implement the plan itself?
2. The counties adopt the Watershed Plan.
3. Are they implementing it? (See next page for a draft table to track implementation and results.)
4. The CBP determines to constitute itself as a legal entity to oversee implementation of the Watershed Plan.
5. Whether or not a legal entity is created to oversee implementation of the plan, participating cities, counties, tribes and water districts take actions to implement specific recommendations in the plan.
6. A single legal entity (if one is created) or individual cities/counties/tribes/water districts or combinations of these entities send recommendations to state/local governments requesting actions that would benefit the basin and the agencies respond positively to these recommendations.
7. Funding is obtained by either the CBP (if it becomes a legal entity) or by member agencies to implement projects that benefit water quality, water quantity, instream flows, habitat, storage and prevent flooding.
8. Public outreach & information efforts raise awareness about water resources and encourage citizens of the basin to adopt behaviors that benefit water resources over the long-term? Possible measures of success would be
   • Ongoing informational outreach by CBP/member agencies on water resource issues (brochures, mailing inserts, stories in newspapers, presentations, speakers bureau)
   • Booth at county fair with information about how to take care of basin water resources
   • Creation and distribution of a brochure on water resources;
   • Maintenance of a website with information on what the average person can do to protect water resources;
   • Distribution of a brochure highlighting the benefits to tourists and local citizens of healthy natural resources and the need to protect them over the long term
1. How can we measure success with respect to the specific elements in the plan?

   It is important to track whether or not Plan recommendations are being implemented; it is equally important to measure the results of their implementation, to assess the effectiveness of specific projects. Are they having the intended beneficial results?

   High-priority projects in the following categories should be tracked.

   • Water quality in the basin - Determine first whether recommendations are implemented, then determine if actions have achieved positive results, for example water bodies are taken off the 303(d) list, monitoring shows improved water quality.
   • Water quantity - Determine whether recommendations are implemented, then determine if actions have achieved positive results, for example cities, water districts and rural communities can meet service needs without impairing instream flows.
   • Habitat - Determine whether recommendations are implemented, then determine if actions have achieved positive results, for example the monitoring strategy is completed and implemented.
   • Instream flows - Determine whether recommendations are implemented, then determine if actions have achieved positive results, for example regulatory minimum flows are met.
   • Flooding - Determine whether recommendations are implemented, then determine if actions have achieved positive results.
   • Storage - Determine whether recommendations are implemented, then determine if actions have achieved positive results.

NOTE: The above examples are illustrative only. The detailed implementation plan that will be developed in Phase 4 should contain specific criteria by which to measure the success of Plan recommendations and their implementation. It's expected that the details of implementation, including responsibiltities, schedules, funding will be spelled out. For now, it is assumed that the CBP will become a legal entity to oversee implementation of the Plan. As such, it will track implementation and will produce a report on a regular basis (annually?).

All high priority recommendations for each element should be implemented for the Plan to be considered a success.

Tracking Results

Tracking should focus on implementation of high priority recommendations and the results of implementation. The following table could be a useful tool for tracking the implementation of recommendations, for assessing results, and for determining appropriate steps to take if the results are unsatisfactory or contrary to those expected.

Draft Table for Tracking Implementation of Recommendations in the Watershed Plan Recommendation Implementation Strategy Responsible Party Schedule Results Steps to take if off-track (adaptive management)

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Send comments or questions to the: Chehalis River Council