Stakeholder involvement is critical if the new watershed plan is to be a success. The Nippersink Collaboration Group has established a framework for involvement in the process through current educational outreach activities that are conducted and coordinated by the agencies, individuals and government entities in the watershed. The first step in stakeholder involvement has already been initiated through letters of support and cash and in kind contributions from several governmental agencies, environmental groups and even private residences. The project team has had conversations, made presentations and had correspondence with government groups, individual landowners and organizations about the need for an update of the plan and the benefits to each of these groups.

Early and continued participation in the plan development will encourage buy-in to the goals of the plan and hopefully result in a positive acceptance of the nonpoint source management measures in the implementation period that will follow completion of the plan. Outreach activities including meetings and educational pieces such as newsletters, mailings and press releases will educate the public at different stages of the plan development as well as to gather critical public input.

Initial meetings will take place in sub watersheds to gather public perceptions of the issues. Key stakeholders from each audience will be invited as well as the general public. The second stage of outreach will illustrate the findings of the GIS information on existing conditions. At meetings in the watershed, key stakeholders and members of the public will be asked to determine if this information reflects realty. Interested members of the public will be asked to participate in fieldwork analysis. Public education will also focus on selecting, design and implementing the NPS management measures identified in the plan process.  As preventative education is key to the future of this rapidly developing watershed, ongoing public outreach continues with presentations of the completed plan. The Nippersink Collaboration Group will ask for formal resolutions in support of the plan, its findings and its implementation strategies from all the targeted audiences in the watershed.