5.1: Sense of Place

Establish a Basin-wide sense of place.

Other Information:

Creating awareness and understanding of the river and its watershed resources to encourage stewardship. • Motivate Basin residents, businesses and officials to identify with their watershed address and to take responsibility for their behavior with respect to watershed resources. Water resource management requires an active and informed citizen commitment — to participate in local watershed activities and to make “water smart” lifestyle choices. Expanding the use of web-based and mass media resources. In conjunction with other agencies and organizations in the Basin, the DRBC already links many existing sites from a central home page. Enhancing these capabilities and expanding information coverage will facilitate the acceptance and implementation of the Basin Plan. (See also “Key Result Area 4: Institutional Coordination and Cooperation,” Goal 4.2.) The mass media can play an important role in educating the public about water resource issues and the importance of conservation and other good practices. Workshops for reporters, editors and other media professionals can play an important role in ensuring the dissemination and consistency of critical messages. Projects that rely on volunteers, such as streamside restoration and planting, need to be advertised well in advance; print and radio media are critical elements. • Establish a Basin-wide clearinghouse and inventory of watershed projects, programs and contacts to create a more formal link among non-governmental groups involved in water resource issues. • Employ mass media coverage of water resource issues to expand outreach. Increasing opportunities for participation. Expanding the number of projects, activities, and programs for citizens to participate in increases their exposure to water resource issues and to stewardship opportunities. Successful expansion of participation opportunities must include an appreciation for the increasing ethnic diversity of the Basin. Outreach efforts should include minority populations and their interests and concerns about water resources. Messages about lifestyle management must reflect sensitivity toward cultural and religious practices. Implementing signage programs. “It’s your/my/our watershed!” Providing geographic reference to streams and their drainage systems for the Delaware River Main Stem and all major tributaries that cross interstate and state highways can help convey this message. Signs telling motorists they are entering a particular watershed or crossing a stream are already beginning to appear along roadways. This “watershed addressing” technique educates visitors as well as increasing residents’ awareness of where they live and travel in relationship to their home watershed and to other watersheds in the Basin.

Objective(s):

5.1.A: Identification with Watershed

5.1.B: Protection and Restoration

5.1.C: Internet and Mass Media

5.1.D: Information Clearinghouse

5.1.E: Education and Outreach

5.1.F: Volunteer Projects and Programs

5.1.G: Citizen Participation

5.1.H: Under-Represented Populations

5.1.I: Signage

5.1.J: Restoration Information

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