Assessing Accomplishments, Addressing Challenges
John E. Moore, Jr.
Our Foundation's board meets in the spring and fall and our agendas reliably include a discussion of how our work is going. One of our board's continuing concerns is how our activities affect water quality in a positive way. That, ultimately is our "bottom line," and the goal we exist to serve.
As we meet at the end of this week we will be considering public policy implications of the "Status of the Watershed" reports we have done, and in my remarks to the board I'll highlight our significant accomplishments as well as continuing challenges of which there are many. This kind of self-assessment is an important exercise for any organization, particularly not-for-profit ones. Let me share with you briefly some of the comments I'll be making.
First, it's important to note that the connection between the efforts of watershed organizations like ours and changes in water quality is often difficult to discern and quantify. The major water quality issues in the Ozarks involve excessive sediment and nutrients from non-point sources. Getting a handle on these sources is a real challenge in itself and remediating them even greater. But I believe we have made some real progress as an organization over the last several years.
During this time we have raised the profile and presence of the Foundation through such means as our weekly e-newsletter Ozark Waters; we have developed productive and cordial relationships with a network of individuals and organizations sharing our purpose and priorities; and through our publications and presentations we've provided information and encouragement on water issues.
Our major research project, the annual "Status of the Watershed" report provides a systematic assessment, albeit on a macro level, of water quality trends in the upper White River basin region. This project has established a basis for communication and recommendations intended to promote greater awareness and beneficial public policy.
Our Foundation priority to promote public policy supportive of water quality has been highlighted by the bi-state agreement between Arkansas and Missouri signed by the governors of the two states in November, 2008. This agreement serves as a model for agreements between other states seeking common ground on water resources. Although the nexus between these accomplishments and higher water quality in the rivers, lakes and streams is tenuous, they arguably move the cause in the right direction.
We also are faced with continuing challenges which keep us humble and our efforts focused. One of our Foundation's priorities has been finding sources of sustainable funding support for all the watershed groups in the region. Efforts to establish a "round up" type program with regional utilities and large-scale recycling programs like "cardboard for conservation" have not been successful. Nonetheless other initiatives to address this priority continue and we hope for success in the days ahead.
Despite growing acknowledgement of the importance of water quality by the public, motivated concern about water issues continues to depend on crises---witness the recent E. coli problems at Lake of the Ozarks and the drought in the Atlanta area. The transition from public education efforts about water quality to public policy and citizen support is difficult to accomplish.
Addressing these challenges will keep us occupied and focused in coming months. As we put our "Status of the Watershed" report together this coming fall, we'll see if long term trends indicate a steady to upward trend in water quality in the Ozarks. That's what we're here to do.
"On the Firehole I caught thirty-six inches worth of trout-in six installments."
Arnold Gingrich
In a Letter to me (c.1971)
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